Eight EU HR Ambassadors raise concern over Hejaaz Hizbullah

Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested by the CID on April 14, 2020.

In a statement issued yesterday, Eight Human Rights Ambassadors of Europe including the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden called on the Sri Lankan Government to “respect human rights defenders such as Hizbullah”.  

The statement issued by the Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia and the Netherlands said that after ten months of Detention, Hejaaz Hizbullah was being accused of speech related offences.  

Prominent Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department on April 14, 2020.   

He was thereafter accused in the media of various activities related to terrorism. He was thereafter produced on the 18th of February 2021 where the Attorney General informed court that the entire case against Hizbullah was to be based on statements made by children.   

Hizbullah and his Lawyers have maintained that the entire case is a fabrication by sleuths.   

The statement further said “Mr. Hizbullah is a leading advocate of the rights of people from minority communities including Muslims in Sri Lanka and a vocal critic of discriminatory policies”.   The statement called on the government to respect persons such as Hizbullah.  “ We join the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, special procedures mandate holders, in urging the Government of Sri Lanka to respect Human Rights defenders such as Hizbullah” it said.