US-based international group Scholars at Risk (SAR) has urged the public to write protest letters to the Malaysian authorities over the charging of law lecturer Azmi Sharom's for sedition.
 
In a statement, the group said it was "gravely concerned" at Azmi's prosecution simply for his legal opinion.
 
"Prosecution for such expression would violate internationally recognised standards of academic freedom and the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
 
"SAR urges letters, faxes and emails respectfully urging authorities to investigate and drop any charges stemming from Azmi's exercise of academic freedom and free expression," it said.
 
The advocacy hopes the write-in campaign will prompt an impartial investigation into Azmi's case, leading to the dropping of the charges against him.
 
It said the campaign will also urge for a public demonstration of Malaysia's commitment to academic freedom, free inquiry and freedom of opinion and expression, which are essential for a higher quality of education.
 
Azmi was on Sept 2 charged with sedition for his legal opinion about the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis which saw the ouster of the Pakatan-led state government by BN.
 
He had made the comments in the context of the ongoing Selangor menteri besar crisis.
 
The organisation has provided on its website where one can sign a protest email which will automatically be sent to Prime Minister Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, as well as Education Minister II Idris Jusoh and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail.
 
Faced with mounting criticism over the sedition crackdown, Abdul Gani said on Tuesday that he would review the sedition charges against Azmi and a number of others.