Convert Sara released on bail

20 April 2010 12:30 pm - 46 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By T. Farook Thajudeen

The Buddhist convert to Islam, Sara, alias Malani Perera who had written two books about her conversion from Buddhism to Islam and was in detention on the orders of the Defence Secretary from March 19 was released today on bail of Rs 5000 cash with two sureties for Rs 50,000 each by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Mrs. Praharsha S. Ranasinghe

She was arrested allegedly for publishing a book deemed to defamatory and offensive to Buddhists. The Mirihana Special Investigation Unit submitting a report in court submitted that the suspect was arrested on a complaint made by a courier service and on checking the suspect the police found that her identity card contained her name as Malani Perera and she was dressed like a Muslim. Consequently they arrested her conducted investigation after detaining her till April 19 at Mirihana Police Station on the orders of Defense Secretary.

The Officer said their investigations had revealed that she had written two books on Islam and investigated to identify whether she had any involvements with any terrorist movements. The investigations conducted so far had not revealed any such involvements and would not object to granting bail to her.

Counsel hemantha Situge appearing on behalf on the suspect submitted that the since the Police investigation do not reveal any illegal or unlawful acts of the suspect to release her or to grant her bail.

Counsel Hussain Azhar appeared on behalf Dr.M. G. M.S. Zurfick , the spokesman for a Coordinating Secretary to President Mahinda Rajapakse on Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs and on behalf of Adambarage Suwanda De Silva the president of Muslim converts Organisation submitted that the alleged offence committed are falling under Section 219 of the Penal Code which are said to be deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any religious sect by insulting its religious belief is a bail able offence and to consider granting bail to the suspect.

The magistrate on considering the submissions granted bail to the suspect and ordered the sureties to produce the Grama Nilasdari certificate and the Police report in court. The suspects passport was retained in court. The case was postponed for May 19.

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Comments - 46

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 06:34 PM

Anyone should have the freedom to explore any religion or even write about it, if they wish. Of course we Buddhists should be proud of our religion, whose principles are pure and peaceful. But, why go against the very teachings of Lord Buddha and spread intolerance? Let anyone convert to Islam or to Christianity or for that matter create his/her own religion if he/she pleases. For those who think one religion is superior to another and belittle other religions (be it Islam, Buddhism, Christianity or any other) SHAME ON YOU!

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:18 PM

First of all I have to tell I’m not insulting my Muslim brothers and sisters or Christian brothers and sisters. The two biggest religions want to get rid of My religion soon as possible, because the real truth is in there. So they will do anything to harm my religion. This is the reality we can’t see, unless you observe very closely.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:22 PM

she did not insult any religion - read the book she wrote. she just wrote what the truth is - THE TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:22 PM

If a person insults another religion, then it is not decent human behaviour. In any democracy everybody should be free to embrace any religion or faith, even to be free from any religion or belief-system. If this lady is found to have written anything publicly and what she has written disturbs anybody in his/her spirit or soul then she should be dealt with legally for the offense.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:23 PM

Its called freedom of expression. Obviously you dont seem to be able to understand it. That is why thugs like you caused racial, lingusitic and religious tension in SL. Learn to be human instead of burying your head

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:25 PM

may be she has written it to educate the others and to accept the truth

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:27 PM

She was reported to the police by the ARAMEX. I request all Muslims to boycott ARAMEX to show solidarity towards sister Sara.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:28 PM

where can i buy the book she wrote about ISLAM.............please

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:29 PM

Are we heading for a Religious War this time??? Sri Lanka is a Buddhist Country with multiple Religions, so why make a mess of a peaceful Sri Lanka. What ever religion cast or creed one should determine the fact before criticizing and commenting on small issues.(nip it at the bud). May Peace prevail amoung all Religions in Sri Lanka.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:33 PM

These kind of actions are really good for the publicity of the book. Like in the past in the world over, people read them and choose their way.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 06:03 PM

When people are arrested for being 'different,' that's when you know that you're living in a 'hell-hole'!

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 06:19 PM

What if the reverse happened in the Middle-East, all of these intellectuals commenting and preaching about what's right or wrong should check that first.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:09 PM

such a clean police car...

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 06:45 PM

Insulting another belief is absolutely wrong - there is no argument on this - but the question is how many of us have got a chance to read what she has written?

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 07:59 PM

You cann't say that her book is 'THE TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS'! She wrote what she believes, but that doesn't mean that it is the 'truth of life'!

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 08:35 PM

Let's NOT judge this woman. Like many people have said here, we all have the right and the freedom to follow any religion we want ...

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 08:41 PM

She is trying to be famous, this is wrong. I respect the Buddist people of Sri Lanka for choosing to ignore this lady ...

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 08:57 PM

I HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, so I am not a fool to comment, without knowing the facts.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 09:06 PM

Can she write a book against ISLAM and publish that in BAHRAIN?

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 09:31 PM

Everyone has a duty to be sensitive to other persons' beliefs. Freedom does not mean that you can just write everything that comes in to your mind and defame what is important to others. One should express one's opinion in a non-offensive manner and that is what is expected of anyone living in a civilized society. ... An opinion, is not an ultimate truth.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 10:03 PM

People are earning their living in the name of religion. They only 'fight' for religion. Forget all religions. Be a human sympathizer - love all human beings.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 10:19 PM

The Buddha, Jesus and Mohamed were all human beings, who showed us a path to a meaningful life.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 10:38 PM

Well said Jan! We Sri Lankans should not waste our energies on arguing who`s right and who`s wrong, rather we should learn to live peacefully and rebuild mother Lanka.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:38 PM

before you comment on this please read the book and what she had wrote.
thanx

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 02:22 PM

NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH / EXPRESSION... :(

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 02:29 PM

So under emergency, anyone can be arrested and detained without any prior investigation. Are we living in a democratic country?

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 02:32 PM

malani keep in mind, do not insult any religion

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 02:53 PM

we all follow the european dress of long pant. are we all christians but the westerners are. In Muslim countries all nationalities follow muslim dress. our authorities are frogs in the well. why bail? they should have released her.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 02:58 PM

Rukman , why are you talkng rubbish. This insame woman wanted to live in luxury in Bahrain and became a convert. But she should not tarnish the image of other religions. Let her follow Islamic faith or whatever she likes, we dont care, but why write books concerning Buddhism. What is her right to do that.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:26 PM

Shame, anyone can follow and write what they understood in practical life. Thereare ups and downs in all religions and srilanka should be a secular state where all religious communities can coexist. not arresting and detaining and too still continue or support the terrorist way, Dr Zurfick is involved in this and he is well reputed muslim struggle for justice for all kind of poor people, i wish him for his social service

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:28 PM

Ananda D....she di not write books about buddhism to insult you'll but obviously of her change from one faith to another and the differences she finds and her views..if this is a so called "democratic country" doesnt she have freedom of speech???!! to express what she wants??? and state the facts??? narrow mindedness on the part of normal citizens and the country as a whole is what has ruined this country..just thinnk about the war with the LTTE...

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:30 PM

SARA A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:32 PM

What a country?????

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:33 PM

meranchi first u please read the book and make u'r comment.
And bro. ananda d. u also try find the book and read that. after that u make comments
O.K

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:38 PM

no one has the freedom to insult another religion..this women has the right to convert heself but no right to insult another religion just for money and a luxery life...

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 01:57 PM

Shouldn't investigations be conducted prior to the arrest? And why was the Defence Secretary involved if it was a (alleged) religious offence? What now? Bring back blasphemy laws a la Islamic countries? Absolute donkeys this entire lot.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:39 PM

Guys do not slander her .i ask every one of us to read the book before we accused her for what ever.none of us know the truth.what was in the book.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:39 PM

It is not a crime to write books on any religion to add more clarification and simplification. But not to discredit any religion. She is lucky that she included defamatory/offensive stances to Buddhism in her books, because had she done that with Islam, then she has to hide from the society like Mr. Sulman Rashdi, who's head is still in the hunt. I do not think any Buddhist will ever advocate such a severe punishment to her or any type of punishment at all. She has the right to publish what is inside her mind. However, it should not be biased or as long as such thoughts are not influenced with wrong information.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:46 PM

Ananda D. have you read her books? is there any harm a Buddhist writing a book over Hinduism or Christianity, given there are no insults to anybody and no manipulation of facts?
The Holy bible was translated in Tamil by the late Arumuga Navalar, A Tamil Hindu from Jaffna, he was known to be a sternness Hindu if not radical, but he did not manipulate the facts of the Bible. Was it wrong? I would better recommend you to read the Article in Sri Lanka Guardian: "From Barbaric Buddhism to Civilized Buddhism" Can you imagine that there are Buddhist publications manipulating the facts? Be tolerant and not radical!

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:47 PM

Religions are to moderate and to help the people and not to hate and murder. The involvement of the DS was an election gag. Would he have done it if a Buddhist monk written something similar about Hinduism or Islam? What happend to the politician who damaged the Buddha statue a couple of weeks back? Wait and see what are the school books in Sinhalese history going to teach the school children: The history is going to be written anew.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:55 PM

Anybody should/must have the right to write books comparing, criticizing any religion as long as the content is not defamatory. Buddhism is a philosophy open to questioning which is something "BAUDDA" people like Ananda D will not understand. This is not the first time two religions were compared in a book. Read the novel "JAYATHISSA SAHA ROSALIN" which compares Buddhism and Christianity and no body says a word about it because the book is in favour of Buddhism. What we are witnessing today is the formation of a cult of "popular buddhists" who are more dangerous than JIHAD

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:57 PM

Well done SL. This could be the thin edge of the wedge. If you tolerate this type of activity the Muslim terrorism will creep in to the country. Green Blood UNPrs and Christian converters will scream and talk about freedom, which is to be expected. In some western countries these women are not even allowed wear that garb. In UK terrorists used this women garb to get out of the country. Whilst you respect all religions please don’t hesitate to take prompt action. Let looser criticise you as much as want. Faster you bring out the anti conversion laws the better.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:59 PM

first read the book before commenting, and yes salman rushdi has insulted the basics of islam in his book which is wrong and i have read it....no wonder sri lanka is still a developing country and it will remain so, as long as the majority of the population are narrow minded...well said citizen26.....LTTE war is a good example

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:59 PM

This is what happens when you hand over the country to under-educated psychopaths. I think our brains are going
numb from the toxic environment in which we live.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:03 PM

I do not understand why this woman was arrested. She should have freedom not only to convert any religion as she wishes and criticize or express her feelings about other religions too. At the same time we also have freedom to express our feelings about her religion too. We don't need to go into her shoes. We know if somebody criticize Koran he or she is being harassed and even issue death warrants. Also we have seen how Muslim women being suppressed and intimidated. I have seen several occasions Muslim man dressing all modern clothes while the woman is not allowed be dressed nice but cover the whole body. While ridiculing these stupid attitudes we must give freedom to anybody to follow that path if she/he wishes.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 04:09 PM

Guys , be grown , All Sri Lankans are converts , No Religion was originated from Lanka , Muslims , Hindu , Buddhists all are coverts or migrants.

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Convert Sara released on bail

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