Malaysia

A prominent anti-government blogger in Malaysia has been detained for two years on charges of insulting Islam. Raja Petra Kamarudin has been held without trial under controversial internal security laws which could see him detained indefinitely. He was arrested on 12 September as part of a crackdown on dissent by the Malaysian government, which is facing a mounting challenge from the opposition. Raja Petra’s lawyer said the order was “a big blow” to civil liberty. (BBC)