Release International, September 21, 2020
The wife of abducted Malaysian pastor Raymond Koh has vowed to press relentlessly for his release, calling for international efforts to set him free to be continued – and for prayers for her family, which has been under surveillance.
Pastor Koh was abducted in broad daylight in Malaysia in February 2017 by a disciplined snatch squad. A public inquiry has pointed the finger at the authorities. Hooded men ran towards Pastor Koh’s car and shattered his windscreen, before the entire convoy was driven away.
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.
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. The state bars Muslim citizens from converting to another faith.
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. 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.