Tom Félix: The fight for freedom in Malaysia's prisons

Tom Félix: The fight for freedom in Malaysia's prisons

The situation of Tom Félix in Malaysia not only raises questions about legal certainty, but also illuminates the challenges with which the family and friends of an imprisoned one are confronted. In the West Malaysia, in Langkawi, the 32-year-old Frenchman was arrested on August 9, 2023 due to drug allegations, which triggered a chain of events that go far beyond his personal tragedy.

a difficult fate

Tom has been in a bad prison situation for over 10 months, where he lives with numerous other inmates in crowded and unsanitary conditions. His mother Sylvie describes his cell, which is only 15 square meters tall and in which 40 people are accommodated. "You have to sleep on the floor, you can't do sports, the lights stay on all night," she explains. Tom has recently been ill with a skin disease, and violence in custody does not fail.

family and friends mobilize

The family of Tom has worked intensively for him and started a call for help through various national media. The message also causes a sensation on the island of Réunion, where they lived five years ago. Emilie, a close girlfriend, is one of those who speaks openly about the difficulties with whom Tom and his family are confronted. "It was important to speak here, because Tom took his first steps here and discovered the love of traveling," she says with a noticeable emotion.

legal challenges

The legal situation is tense. Although the Malaysian authorities can refrain from the death penalty under certain circumstances, there is a risk that Tom will be sentenced to such a judgment for drug trafficking. The parents of Tom are convinced that an incorrect case law has led to his detention. "Tom knew nothing about the drugs found in his apartment," defended his mother. A roommate had been recognized as the main person responsible.

a long way to the process

The upcoming process of Tom is planned for June 2025, which means an unbearable waiting time for his family. While you are waiting for the negotiation date, you fight together with a renowned human rights lawyer who has already attracted international attention in other cases. Sylvie and Jean-Luc demand support from the French state that has so far failed. "We are determined to fight until the end," says Sylvie, while putting hope that Tom stays tough.

Man behind history

The fates like Tom that show how quickly the life of an individual can be affected by legal and social systems. For the community around Tom, these events are an important reminder to support detainees and the challenges that their families face. While they continue to fight for Tom and against injustice in their daily life, the memory of his childhood and his life in Réunion remains alive - a bright spot in a dark time.

The parents plan to continue to carry out weekly visits to stand up to their son and maintain the connection to the outside world, while the circumstances in Malaysia are hardly better.

- Nag