172:. He was charged under the Section 3 of the ICCPR Act and Article 291B of the Penal Code, and was held in pre-trial detention for 127 days. Sathkumara was released under strict bail conditions on August 8, 2019, and the charges were ultimately dropped without an indictment on February 9, 2021. The arrest and detention was criticized by the human rights groups
199:
of Sri Lankan Police on May 28, 2023, for allegedly making derogatory remarks on the Buddha during her show held on April 1, 2023. She was held in detention for more than a month, and on July 5, 2023, Colombo Fort magistrate ordered her to be further remanded until 12th of July. However, following a
52:
Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person, or makes any gesture in the sight of that person, or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either
64:
Whoever, with the deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of persons, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment
216:
Astrologer Indika
Thotawaththa was arrested by the Computer Crimes Division of Sri Lankan Police on October 6, 2023 for allegedly making defamatory statements damaging ethnic and religious harmony. He was released on October 20, 2023 under strict bail conditions.
249:. Fernando held a Sunday sermon on April 30, 2023, during which he allegedly insulted Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. He was released on bail in January 2024, with restrictions on his travel and public statements regarding religion.
121:
on her arm. She was detained for four days, before being deported to the United
Kingdom on April 24, 2014. Coleman sued the Sri Lankan authorities seeking 10 million rupees in compensation. On November 15, 2017, the
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enshrined within the covenant. Sri Lankan authorities have been accused of abusing the
Section 3 (1) of the ICCPR act to arrest individuals who have made allegedly defamatory statements about religion.
81:
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No person shall propagate war or advocate national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
675:
526:
32:
452:
778:
635:
661:
Edirisooriya
Arachchige Jayani Nathasha Edirisooriya v Officer in Charge of Internet Surveillance and Intelligence Unit (HCEBA/1335/2023)
852:
130:. The court further stated that Coleman had been subjected to "horrifying and scandalous treatment" by the police and prison officers.
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208:.100,000. Judge Patabandige concluded that the statements made by Edirisooriya did not constitute hate speech under the ICCPR Act.
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876:
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of hurting religious sentiments of a person. It carries a penalty of up to 2 years of imprisonment. Furthermore, the
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85:
750:
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830:
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24:
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concluded that
Coleman's arrest and deportation was unlawful, and ordered her to be compensated by 800,000
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797:
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429:
173:
36:
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Judge Aditya
Patabandige overruled the magistrate decision and ordered her to be released on a bail of
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On April of 2014, Naomi
Coleman, a British tourist, got arrested by the Sri Lankan Police for having a
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International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, No. 56 of 2007, Section 3 (1)
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of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
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676:"Sri Lankan High Court Delivers a Landmark Order as a Bulwark for Freedom of Expression"
527:"Sri Lanka: Freedom Now Files Petition with UN on behalf of Author Shakthika Sathkumara"
870:
165:
706:
317:
235:
779:"Astrologer Indika Totawawatte released on bail after he tendered his apologies"
177:
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description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
729:"Natasha Edirisooriya Vs ICCPR Act ;The land mark High Court judgement in full"
84:(ICCPR) on June 11, 1980. In 2007, the ICCPR Act was implemented to uphold the
118:
40:
499:"Jailed writer Shakthika Sathkumara is a prisoner of conscience; Amnesty"
157:
153:
238:
169:
114:
636:"Nathasha Edirisooriya Granted Bail in A Historic High Court Ruling"
397:"Arrest of writer Sathkumara sparks debate on freedom of expression"
853:"SC calls for progress report on probe into Pastor Jerome Fernando"
702:"Natasha Edirisooriya can't be charged under ICCPR Act, Penal Code"
286:"How a human rights law became a tool of repression in Sri Lanka"
608:"Arrested Sri Lanka comedian Natasha Edirisooriya granted bail"
342:"Tattoo Of Buddha Gets British Tourist Thrown Out Of Sri Lanka"
553:"Sri Lanka: Release award-winning writer Shakthika Sathkumara"
473:"Shakthika Sathkumara discharged days ahead of UNHRC sessions"
373:
346:
581:"Stand-up comedy show : Natasha Edirisooriya arrested"
35:
has been used by the authorities to protect religion from
313:"Sri Lanka to deport British tourist over Buddha tattoo"
369:"Buddha tattoo woman Naomi Coleman wins compensation"
82:
International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
453:"Author Sathkumara bailed after 127 days in jail"
425:"Drop All Charges Against Shakthika Sathkumara"
91:
62:
50:
23:restricts expressions made with the deliberate
200:petition filed on behalf of Edirisooriya, the
8:
241:, was arrested on December 1, 2023 by the
195:Nathasha Edirisooriya was arrested by the
826:"Pastor Jerome Fernando further remanded"
824:Sooriyagoda, Lakmal (December 13, 2023).
796:Balasuriya, Darshana (December 1, 2023).
268:Religious Freedom Conditions in Sri Lanka
674:Wickramasinghe, Rajini (July 20, 2023).
284:Gunatilleke, Gehan (February 7, 2023).
258:
606:Rupasinghe, Wasantha (July 13, 2023).
180:, as well as the writers' association
16:Law prohibiting blasphemy in Sri Lanka
70:Penal Code of Sri Lanka, Article 291B
58:Penal Code of Sri Lanka, Article 291A
7:
160:. The story contained references to
700:Nanayakkara, Hansi (July 8, 2023).
14:
634:Parakrama, Isuru (July 5, 2023).
243:Criminal Investigation Department
197:Criminal Investigation Department
156:in a short story he published on
340:Neuman, Scott (April 22, 2014).
152:under allegations of defaming
1:
19:Article 291A and 291B of the
751:"Indika Thotawatte arrested"
266:Udin, Zack (October 2021).
33:Prevention of Terrorism Act
893:
224:
137:
124:Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
86:civil and political rights
144:On April 1, 2019, writer
80:Sri Lanka acceded to the
798:"Pastor Jerome arrested"
613:World Socialist Web Site
680:Oxford Human Rights Hub
21:Penal Code of Sri Lanka
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73:
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877:Blasphemy law in Asia
430:Amnesty International
188:Nathasha Edirisooriya
174:Amnesty International
47:Article 291A and 291B
273:(Report). p. 2.
148:was arrested by the
146:Shakthika Sathkumara
140:Shakthika Sathkumara
134:Shakthika Sathkumara
785:. October 20, 2023.
533:. December 10, 2019
377:. November 15, 2017
212:Indika Thotawaththa
479:. February 9, 2021
202:Colombo High Court
162:child sexual abuse
759:. October 6, 2023
558:PEN International
461:. August 6, 2019.
433:. August 24, 2020
247:Sri Lankan Police
182:PEN International
150:Sri Lankan Police
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321:. April 22, 2014
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193:Standup comedian
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561:. June 20, 2019
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531:Sri Lanka Brief
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507:. July 30, 2019
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232:Jerome Fernando
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170:Buddhist clergy
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731:. July 7, 2023
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640:Lanka News Web
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587:. May 28, 2023
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109:Naomi Coleman
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104:Notable cases
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837:December 23,
835:. Retrieved
831:Daily Mirror
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809:December 23,
807:. Retrieved
803:Daily Mirror
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763:November 15,
761:. Retrieved
756:Daily Mirror
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735:November 15,
733:. Retrieved
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713:November 15,
711:. Retrieved
707:Ceylon Today
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685:November 15,
683:. Retrieved
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645:November 15,
643:. Retrieved
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619:November 15,
617:. Retrieved
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591:November 15,
589:. Retrieved
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509:. Retrieved
504:Sunday Times
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407:. Retrieved
402:Daily Mirror
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381:December 23,
379:. Retrieved
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353:December 23,
351:. Retrieved
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325:December 23,
323:. Retrieved
318:The Guardian
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483:November 5,
477:EconomyNext
437:November 5,
409:November 5,
297:November 5,
178:Freedom Now
458:Daily News
253:References
857:Adaderana
565:August 5,
537:August 5,
511:August 5,
236:Christian
76:ICCPR Act
37:criticism
29:ICCPR Act
871:Category
585:NewsWire
158:Facebook
154:Buddhism
96:—
68:—
56:—
31:and the
245:of the
168:within
41:insults
239:pastor
128:rupees
119:Buddha
115:tattoo
25:intent
271:(PDF)
839:2023
811:2023
765:2023
737:2023
715:2023
687:2023
647:2023
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593:2023
567:2023
539:2023
513:2023
485:2023
439:2023
411:2023
383:2023
355:2023
327:2023
299:2023
234:, a
176:and
164:and
39:and
374:BBC
347:NPR
117:of
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