More

    Bail for Lankan lawyer, “prisoner of conscience”

    Civil societyHuman rightsBail for Lankan lawyer, “prisoner of conscience”
    - Advertisment -

    Bail for Lankan lawyer, “prisoner of conscience”

    The criminal investigation department of the Sri Lanka police had detained Hejaaz Hizbullah, an attorney-at-law under the island nation’s Prevention of Terrorism Act.

    Sri Lankan lawyer, Hejaaz Hizbullah has obtained bail from a court of appeal after 20 months in detention under the country’s prevention of terrorism act (PTA).

    Hizbullah has been under detention since April 2020 when he was picked up under the provisions in following the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 and injured over 500. The criminal investigations department of the Sri Lankan police did not charge him for any offence for 10 of the 20 months he was held captive.

    (Health authorities had advised him to stay at home since the suspected he had come in contact with people with COVID-19. This was a ruse so to apprehend him.)

    - Advertisement -

    Hizbullah’s trial has been controversial. His lawyers argued that Hizbullah is being charged because of his work as a lawyer and a defender of human rights. They said that he was being blamed for his association with a businessman whose sons were suspected to have carried out the Easter Sunday bombings.

    As calls for his release grew within and outside Sri Lanka, the government shuffled charges and accused him of inciting racial disharmony.

    Abusive law

    Besides not being provided free access to his lawyers or to meet with his family, the police was even pulled up by a Colombo magistrate for botching up an identification parade by acquainting school-going children with his picture before the exercise. The investigating team had alleged that Hizbullah was involved in preaching hate.

    Sri Lanka’s prevention of terrorism act (PTA) allows authorities to detain any suspect without charges and without producing a suspect before a judge.

    In 2021, Amnesty International declared Hizbullah a prisoner of conscience. “He is a prisoner of conscience and must me immediately and unconditionally released and all charges against him dropped,” the UK-based international human rights organisation said on July 14.

    Amnesty International said Hizbullah was detained on “trumped-up charges” under the “draconian” PTA. “He has been targeted for his work, and his advocacy for the rights of Muslim minorities in the country,” the organisation said.

    Human rights defenders have criticised the use of PTA to crush dissent and justify the forcible disappearance of people.

     

    Image: Hippopx licensed under Creative Commons Zero – CC0

    - Advertisement -

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Latest news

    Justice is Not a Privilege, It is a Right for Every Child: Justice Savitri Ratho

    Justice Madan Lokur, Chairperson of the United Nations’ Internal Justice Council and former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, emphasised the need for meaningful access to justice for children—as victims, as accused, and as those in need of care and protection, in all their avatars.

    Climate Justice Starts with a Bus Ride: A Lifeline for Delhi’s Waste Pickers

    For Delhi’s waste pickers, a working bus route is not a luxury. It is a pathway to dignity, safety, and survival. In a city battling extreme heat, toxic air, and rising inequality, climate justice might just begin with a seat on a functioning, inclusive bus.

    Sri Lanka Launches First Public-Private Water Supply Partnership with ADB Support

    The pilot in Galle is seen as a potential blueprint for nationwide replication, with implications for addressing water inefficiencies throughout Sri Lanka. If successful, it could also serve as a model for other countries in the region facing similar challenges.

    Amit Shah Chairs Review Meeting of World’s Largest Co-op Food Grain Storage Scheme

    Emphasising on the extensive involvement of PACS in the food storage scheme, the Union Minister of Cooperation said that it is necessary to make PACS an integral part of this scheme so that the financial viability and social effectiveness of PACS can be ensured.
    - Advertisement -

    Fire-Tolerant Chinaberry Tree Endorsed for Forest Planting

    Researchers say this makes it well-suited to planting in fire-affected areas for quick reforestation and regeneration — although experts also stress the need for a mix of species.

    As Climate Change Threatens, Maldives Is No Island Paradise

    While tourists sip cocktails in overwater bungalows, some neighboring islands are literally running out of fresh water.

    Must read

    Justice is Not a Privilege, It is a Right for Every Child: Justice Savitri Ratho

    Justice Madan Lokur, Chairperson of the United Nations’ Internal Justice Council and former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, emphasised the need for meaningful access to justice for children—as victims, as accused, and as those in need of care and protection, in all their avatars.

    Climate Justice Starts with a Bus Ride: A Lifeline for Delhi’s Waste Pickers

    For Delhi’s waste pickers, a working bus route is not a luxury. It is a pathway to dignity, safety, and survival. In a city battling extreme heat, toxic air, and rising inequality, climate justice might just begin with a seat on a functioning, inclusive bus.
    - Advertisement -

    More from the sectionRELATED
    Recommended to you