A 21-year-old student, Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhail, has been detained for nearly nine months under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) after posting a video on Instagram showing the Israeli flag being trampled, according to a report by BBC Sinhala.
Suhail, an aviation student from Mawanella, was first detained by Dehiwala Police in October 2024 near the Israeli consular premises for not carrying his national ID. He was later released by court after his ID was produced.
However, he was re-arrested and remanded under the PTA over the Instagram video, despite the court having previously released him without bail. His lawyer says no formal charges have been filed, and police have not presented any evidence of a crime.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has been informed, and the family has lodged a complaint. Rights groups and legal experts have voiced concern over the extended detention without charge.
According to police, the case is scheduled to be taken up on Wednesday, July 9. (Newswire)
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