The sentencing of Clare Rewcastle-Brown by a Malay court to two years in prison in absentia, for defaming the queen consort Sultanah Nur Zahirah of Terengganu, is deeply troubling.

Clare Rewcastle-Brown, editor of Sarawak Report, fears arrest by Interpol on behalf of the Malaysian government. The journalist, known for exposing high-level corruption, shared her concerns with the UK media. On September 23, the Malaysian government issued a warrant for Clare’s arrest, pertaining to her 2018 book about the 1MDB scandal. Clare intends to travel to Spain to tend to visit her elderly father but is at risk of arrest under the Interpol’s Red Notice system.