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Release Muslim Lawyer in Sri Lanka

Photo Credit Mahesh Shantaram

Hejaaz Hizbullah is a prominent lawyer and member of Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority. He was arrested on April 14, 2020 and has since been detained on trumped-up charges under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). without proper access to his family or legal counsel. No credible evidence of wrongdoing has yet been presented before a court. The day before his arrest, he had joined in a statement opposing the government’s forced cremation policy for COVID-19 victims, a policy which violated Muslim religious practices. He is also known for being a strong advocate on human rights and Constitutional law.

The PTA provides the authorities with broad powers to arbitrarily detain individuals. Hejaaz Hizbullah has been targeted by the government simply for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. He is a Prisoner of Conscience and must be immediately and unconditionally released. All charges against him must be dropped without delay.

⬇ Make Your Voice Heard ⬇

President

Gotabaya

Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka

{contact_data~salutation},

I am deeply concerned about the prolonged arbitrary detention of Hejaaz Hizbullah, a Sri Lankan lawyer.  He has been detained since April 14, 2020 on trumped-up charges under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). No credible evidence of wrongdoing by him has yet been produced before a court.  The day before his arrest, he had joined in a statement protesting your government’s forced cremation policy for COVID-19 victims.  He remains in detention without being given unrestricted access to his relatives and his lawyers.

The PTA has had a chilling effect on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka as it provides the authorities with sweeping powers to arbitrarily detain individuals for up to 18 months without charge or trial on mere suspicion of an offense.  Hejaaz Hizbullah has been a vocal critic of the government, raising issues of discrimination against the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka, among his other human rights work.

Hejaaz Hizbullah is a Prisoner of Conscience targeted for his work and opinions.  He must be immediately and unconditionally released and all charges against him dropped. I also call on the Sri Lankan government to repeal the PTA and end its use immediately.  Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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