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, Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Diego García-Sayán, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers and five other Rapporteurs 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.
Read the shorter version of the original communication: Sri Lanka: Hejaaz Hizbullah held in prolonged pre-trial detention for anti-hate speech work (joint communication)
