As Malaysians await the autopsy findings for Form One religious school student Zara Qairina Mahathir, human rights lawyer Siti Kasim has highlighted disturbing similarities with the 2013 death of Wan Ahmad Faris Wan Abdul Rahman, a Form Four student at Maahad Tahfiz Sains Nurul Aman in Kok Lanas, Kelantan.
Wan Faris’ body was discovered on December 12, 2013, hanging in a dormitory toilet by the school principal, who had been alerted by a foul odour. Initial autopsy results led authorities to classify the case as a sudden death with no criminal element. However, in June 2016, the Coroner’s Court determined that the death resulted from actions of an unknown individual, ruling out suicide.
According to details shared by Siti Kasim, the discovery scene raised troubling questions. Wan Faris was reportedly found wearing only a black jacket over a red T-shirt, with no pants or undergarments. His genitals were exposed, and a pair of black trousers was found lodged inside a toilet bowl. Court records revealed that days before his death, the teenager had a dispute with unidentified students and had reported another pupil for secretly visiting the daughter of the school’s owner—a move that led to that student’s suspension.
Despite these circumstances, authorities did not appear to suspect foul play, even though photographs allegedly showed bruising on his back and buttocks. Adding to the controversy, the school demolished the toilet before the new term, claiming it was to prevent trauma among pupils. The autopsy report was issued nearly five months after the incident, and during the 2016 inquest, the doctor conducting the post-mortem stated there was little probability of murder prior to the hanging but was not questioned about the injuries.
Wan Faris’ mother, Ruhani Hussin, has since filed a civil suit against the Malaysian government, the Inspector-General of Police, and the case’s investigating officer. A team of legal professionals began assisting the family pro bono earlier this year to pursue justice.
Siti Kasim criticised what she described as serious flaws and delays in the investigation, pointing to a broader systemic issue in handling such cases. She questioned why incidents of bullying and abuse appear to persist in religious boarding schools, often with minimal transparency from the authorities.
Drawing parallels to Zara’s case—where a post-mortem was only performed following intense public pressure—she stressed that such examinations should be automatic. She called for renewed attention to past cases, stronger adherence to standard operating procedures, and accountability from institutions meant to protect students.
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