OSF: Last June, Malaysian authorities burned the homes and boats of members of the Bajau Laut, an indigenous community in Malaysian Borneo whose livelihoods are inextricably linked to the sea. This destruction left families without shelter, and with few ways to support themselves.

After videos of the displacement went viral, the Malaysian government faced heavy criticism. Their response? Relying on a 1948 colonial-era law, they arrested human rights defender Mukmin Nantang for sedition, after he drew attention to the plight of the Bajau Laut.

England adopted sedition laws in the 16th century to prevent criticism of the monarch. Today, these antiquated statutes are increasingly being repurposed by governments to suppress opposition by prosecuting speech. For instance, a Hong Kong court convicted two former newspaper editors under its colonial-era sedition law for articles critical of the government.

Read full article: The Empire Strikes Back—Colonial Sedition Laws in the Hands of Modern Authorities | Opinion