Release International petition extended to free pastor Raymond Koh – seized by a snatch squad from the streets of Malaysia. Hear an interview below with his wife Susanna Liew – International Woman of the Year.

The wife of abducted
Malaysian pastor Raymond Koh has vowed relentless action to press for his
release. She has called for international efforts to set him free to be
continued – and for prayers for her family, which has been under surveillance.

UK-based charity Release
International is extending its petition to release the pastor, who was kidnapped
in a military-style operation in February 2017– and hasn’t been seen since.

Meanwhile an inquiry
has resumed into a second pastor and his wife who also disappeared under
suspicious circumstances.

Broad daylight

<figure class="wp-block-image"><figcaption>CCTV footage of abduction</figcaption></figure>

Pastor Raymond Koh was
abducted in broad daylight in Malaysia by a disciplined snatch squad. A public
inquiry has pointed the finger at the authorities.

The pastor’s wife, Susanna Liew, has vowed to take ‘relentless action’ to press for his release. And she is calling for prayer to protect her family and see justice done. You can listen to an interview with her here:

<figure class="wp-block-audio"><figcaption>Interview with Susanna Liew</figcaption></figure>

CCTV cameras captured the
moment when black SUVs surrounded and boxed in Pastor Koh’s car, forcing it to
a halt. Several other vehicles were involved in the kidnapping.

Hooded men ran towards
Pastor Koh’s car and shattered his windscreen, before the entire convoy was
driven away. Up to 15 men were filmed taking part in the abduction, which was
over in 40 seconds.

‘More than three
years have passed, yet there has been no word whether Pastor Koh is dead or
alive,’ says Release CEO Paul Robinson. ‘Malaysia must secure his release and
account for his disappearance, which by any standards is a crime.’

Special Branch

In 2019, Malaysia’s
Human Rights Commission accused the country’s Special Branch of kidnapping both
Pastor Koh and Shia Muslim social activist Amri Che Mat. Both were suspected of
trying to convert Sunni Muslims.

The Human Rights
Commission inquiry stated that Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat had been ‘abducted
by State agents, namely the Special Branch [of the Royal Malaysia Police].’

Meanwhile the Human
Rights Commission has resumed its inquiry into Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife
Ruth who went missing in 2016. The inquiry was put on hold due to the Covid-19
pandemic.

Joshua Hilmy was
investigated after converting from Islam to Christianity. The pastor and his
wife disappeared after he inquired about changing his religion on his identity
card from Muslim to Christian.

Christians make up about nine per cent of the population of
Malaysia, where proselytising Muslims – attempting to convert them –
is forbidden by law. Christians from a Muslim background can face severe
persecution. The state bars its Muslim citizens from converting to another
faith. And those who change their religion could be charged with apostasy.

Anthrax

Raymond Koh, an
Evangelical Free Church pastor, set up Hope Community to help the poor in the
capital Kuala Lumpur.

The authorities
suspected him of attempting to convert Muslims and raided a fundraiser in 2011.
Pastor Koh and his wife Susanna received death threats. He was sent two bullets
and she white powder, which she was later told was anthrax.

Release International is
pressing the Malaysian government to investigate the disappearance of Pastor
Koh and bring about his release.

The Release petition to
the Prime Minister and the Inspector General of Police states:

Petition

‘One of your country’s loyal citizens has been
missing for three years. Pastor Raymond Koh was kidnapped off the streets on
February 13, 2017, and has not been seen since. His wife and children have been
left to wonder what happened to him and whether he is still alive.

‘We, Pastor Raymond’s fellow Christians from
around the world, call on your government to release any and all information
related to the forced disappearance… including any involvement of Special
Branch.’

Please sign the online petition here – and ask your friends and church to sign too. The petition closes on October 15.

Susanna Liew was named International Woman of the Year (2020) at the Annual International Women of Courage Awards. You can hear the full interview with her on the Release International Voice Podcast here

Through its
international network of missions, Release International is active in some 25
countries around the world, supporting pastors, Christian prisoners and their
families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice.

The post PASTOR KIDNAPPING IN MALAYSIA – WIFE VOWS ‘RELENTLESS ACTION’ – RELEASE PETITION EXTENDED appeared first on Release International.