Malaysia police arrest Turks over 'security threat'

KUALA LUMPUR – Agence France-Presse

AFP photo

Two Turkish nationals who went missing in Malaysia have been arrested as a security threat, the police chief announced on May 3.

National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar tweeted that Turgay Karaman and İhsan Aslan were arrested "because they threatened the security of Malaysia."

No further details were provided by authorities and the Turkish embassy refused to comment.

Local media reports had been circulating allegations that both men had been abducted.

Media reports said the other arrested Turk, İhsan Aslan, is a businessman.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the national police chief should grant the two men immediate access to their lawyers and families and give details of how they posed a threat to Malaysia.