Public Petition Calls for the release of Hijaz Hisbullah

In a public petition signed, 23 civil society organizations and 75 individuals have called upon members of the Human Rights Council and all members of the international community to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to release Attorney-at-law Hijaz Hizbullah forthwith.

They also have requested the international community to call upon the government to desist from enforcing the provisions of the PTA.

Hizbullah is held under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The public petition also urges members of the Human Rights Council and the European Commission to treat Hizbullah’s case and other similar cases as emblematic reflections of the egregious human rights abuses that take place under the PTA.

The public petition states the 26th August 2021 marks the 500th day of Hejaaz Hizbullah’s incarceration.

An indictment under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act has now been served on Hizbullah.

According to the indictment, Hizbullah is not accused of involvement in the Easter Sunday Attacks but is only accused of making certain statements to students in contravention of these laws.

ARTICLE 19 Defending freedom of expression and information, Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), Centre for Policy Alternatives, Civil Society Solidarity Forum were among the organizations who signed this petition.

Bishop Duleep de Chickera, Amal de Chickera, Ambika Sathkunanathan, Ameer Faaiz, Angelica Chandrasekaran, Anithra Varia, Antony Gratian and Bhavani Fonseka were among the individuals who signed this petition.