KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Malaysian court sentenced a student democracy activist to a year in jail on Friday after finding him guilty of sedition, drawing immediate condemnation from human rights groups who accuse the government of using the colonial-era law to stifle freedom of expression.

Adam Adli was charged last year after making several statements at a political meeting following national elections, including one in which he urged people “go down to the streets to seize back our power.”