9 September 2021 08:39 am Views - 151
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
In a joint communication, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs have recommended to review the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Sri Lanka to bring it in line with international human rights standards.
In a communication, seven UN rapporteurs including Mary Lawlor, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders have expressed their deep concern at Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah’s detention which they believe may have been used as a means to prevent him from further engaging with ongoing human rights cases in relation to rising hate speech, violence and discrimination against the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka.
The Special Rapporteurs have expressed further concern at the reported irregularities in due process, partly facilitated by the Prevention of Terrorism Act which allowed Hizbullah to be held without charge for almost a year with severely restricted access to lawyers.
Seven UN Special Rapporteurs including Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Special Rapporteur on minority issues were signatories to this joint communication.
According to the joint communication, on 19 August 2020, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) filed a report regarding an ongoing investigation into Hizbullah’s activities. The report allegedly claimed that Hizbullah had acted as counsel on several occasions for individuals involved in terrorism and unlawful activity, and that he had been collecting data and information on various attacks on Muslims.
The evidence allegedly incriminating Hizbullah was related to phone calls he made with a suicide bomber at the Easter Sunday attacks. It has been alleged that Hizbullah made 14 phone calls to this individual over a period of five years, being his legal representative in a civil property dispute cases.