Hejaaz Hizbullah and Madrasa School principal remanded

Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah and the principal of a Madrasa School Mohammed Shakeel, were today ordered by the Fort Magistrates Court to be remanded till 3 March.

The order was given after Hizbullah and Shakeel were produced before the Magistrate today.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera had yesterday directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D Wickremeratne to report facts and produce the Principal of the Madrasa School,? Mohammed Shakeel before the relevant Magistrate?s Court for allegedly abetting Hejaaz Hizbullah on charges under section 2 (1) (h) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and section 3(1) of the ICCPR Act.

Accordingly, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) arrested Mohammed Shakeel yesterday and produced him in court today.

The AG?s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told Colombo Gazette that IGP C. D. Wickremeratne was also directed to produce Hizbullah before the relevant Magistrate?s Court.

Hizbullah was presented in Court on charges filed under Section 2(1) (h) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Section 3(1) of the International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.

The human rights lawyer has been held at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Colombo since his arrest on 14 April 2020, with restricted access to his lawyers, family and wife.

Hizbullah was arrested on charges of allegedly ?aiding and abetting? one of the bombers involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Many, including the?European Union,?Amnesty International, and nearly?150 lawyers?in Sri Lanka had raised concerns over Hejaaz Hizbullah?s detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act without sufficient evidence.

Last month, Attorney General Dappula de Livera had?agreed to grant?Hizbullah access to his lawyers.?(Colombo Gazette)