Malaysia’s jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was granted a furlough today to attend his father’s funeral, soon after he began a five-year prison sentence on sodomy charges that he says are politically motivated.
Wearing a white Malay outfit, Anwar was taken to his father’s house under heavy security to pay respects to the 96-year-old who died today morning. Anwar will return to prison after the burial, which takes place after Muslim prayers.
Anwar began his sentence February 10 after losing a final appeal against a charge of sodomising a former aide in 2008.
The court case was widely seen at home and abroad as politically motivated to eliminate any threats to Malaysia’s ruling coalition, whose popularity has been eroding since 2008.