A/HRC/42/30 Nations for consideration. Another member of the Coalition reported an incident of surveillance the following week. 22. Malaysia 68. On 10 May 2019, five special procedures mandate holders raised concerns about the summoning for questioning of LGBT+ human rights defender Mr. Numan Afifi in connection with his participation in the 40th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva (MYS 2/2019). Mr. Numan Afifi is associated with the PELANGI Campaign and has worked with the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (COMANGO) during Malaysia’s UPR process. On 14 March 2019 in Geneva, Mr. Numan Afifi made a statement in the Human Rights Council on behalf of 12 Malaysian organizations working on sexual orientation and gender identity. On 16 April 2019, Mr. Numan Afifi was summoned for interrogation by the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit (D5) and asked to present himself to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) headquarters in Bukit Aman on 26 April 2019, where he was questioned with a lawyer present. 69. It was further reported that Mr. Numan Afifi and Mr. Rizal Rozhan, of Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER), who delivered a statement on behalf of the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) on 14 March 2019 during the deliberation of Malaysia’s UPR outcome session, were harassed and criticized online for ‘interfering’ in issues of freedom of religion and belief in Malaysia and spreading incorrect information at the Human Rights Council. On 21 April 2019, the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM), a unit of the Religious Affairs Ministry under the Prime Minister’s Office, released a statement denying claims made by Mr. Afifi and aligning itself with statements made by the Prime Minister to the effect that the lifestyles of LGBT+ persons will not be accepted in Malaysia. 23. Malta 70. Acts of intimidation against Ms. Sarah Clarke, at the time working for PEN International, by Maltese high level officials were reported to have taken place on 10 December 2018 during a UN High Level event in Marrakech, Morocco marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ms. Clarke had been involved in the urging of a public inquiry into the assassination of the investigative journalist and human rights defender, Ms. Daphne Caruana Galizia (see MLT 2/2017; MLT 1/2018). She was also involved in the submission of a shadow report for the review of Malta by the UPR, including on the case of Ms. Galizia. Following the intervention by Malta at the UN High Level event, Ms. Clarke approached representatives of the Maltese Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion and referred to the case of Ms. Galizia. A representative reportedly told her, using abusive language, that she was biased and unaware of the facts (see also MLT 1/2019). A public clarification and a private apology were later registered by the official. 71. On 24 June 2019, the Government responded to the allegations indicating that the Maltese official’s reaction did not happen in isolation but was the direct result of what had transpired immediately before, when the official felt that the actions of Ms. Clarke preceding his comments were undue and inappropriate. The Government noted that the public official publicly clarified his comments and issued a private apology directly to Ms. Clarke, offering his unreserved apologies and expressing regret for his choice of words and for having caused an offense. 24. Mauritania 72. In July 2018, the Committee against Torture noted with concern reports indicating that, on the pretext of checking their visas, the authorities detained five human rights defenders who intended to cooperate with the Committee during the review of Mauritania (CAT/C/MRT/CO/2, paras. 26 and 27). The Committee urged Mauritania to protect 32 GE.19-15332