SC allows lawyers to access remanded Poet Ahnaf Jazeem

The Supreme Court today ordered the Prison Authorities

to allow the access of lawyers to the remanded poet Ahnaf Jazeem at Colombo Remand Prison, with the right to maintain lawyer-client privilege and confidentiality.

Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Justice Murdu Fernando, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and Justice Shiran Goonaratne made this order consequent to a Fundamental Rights petition filed on behalf of 26-year-old poet Ahnaf Jazeem challenging his arrest and detention.

President's Counsel K. Kang-Isvaran with counsel Lakshmanan Jayakumar appearing for the petitioner submitted to the court that the Poet, Ahnaf Jazeem has never been produced before Magistrate since May this year. They sought meaningful access to the detainee to obtain detainee's instructions regarding the application filed before Supreme Court.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle informed Supreme Court that the suspect is currently under judicial custody and maintained that he has been produced before a Magistrate following the expiration of the detention order. He further said the Attorney General has already filed limited objections against this fundamental Rights petition.

The petition was fixed for support on September 8.

The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) had arrested Ahnaf Jazeem under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over an allegation that he had promoted extremism and violence in children and aided and abetted Muslim extremism through his literary work.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)