Muslim Teacher and Poet, Arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Released after 19 Months of Detention

17-12-2021

Sarah Thanawala

Sri Lanka and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defense.

On 15 December 2021, a Muslim teacher and poet Ahnaf Jazeem was released on bail by the Puttalam High Court, Sri Lanka (Nation, 2021). In May 2020, Jazeem was detained by Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) 1979 for publishing a Tamil language poetry anthology, and allegedly “promoting extremism and violence” to children (Tamil Guardian, 2021a; Nation, 2021). Tamil literature experts have noted the “baseless” nature of the detention (Tamil Guardian, 2021a). Jazeem was held without charges for 18 months and was produced before the Puttalam High Court only on 15 November 2021 (Tamil Guardian, 2021b). He was charged under section 2(1)(h) of the PTA (Nation, 2021). In September 2021, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Blanchet, during the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, noted Jazeem’s prolonged detention without charge and highlighted the need to repeal the PTA (OHCHR, 2021).

Source and further reading:

Nation (2021, December 15). Detained poet Ahnaf Jazeem held under PTA released on bail. Nation. https://www.nation.lk/online/detained-poet-ahnaf-jazeem-held-under-pta-released-on-bail-153600.html 

Tamil Guardian (2021a, December 16). After 19 months, Muslim poet Ahnaf Jazeem finally released. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/after-19-months-muslim-poet-ahnaf-jazeem-finally-released 

Tamil Guardian (2021b, November 17). After 18 months, Muslim poet Ahnaf Jazeem brought before High Court. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/after-18-months-muslim-poet-ahnaf-jazeem-brought-high-court 

United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) (2021, September 13). Oral Update on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. OHCHR. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?LangID=E&NewsID=27447