Ahnaf Jazeem (pen name, Mannaramuthu Ahnaf) is a Tamil Muslim poet from Silavathurai, Mannar, Northern Province, Sri Lanka.
Ahnaf wrote a Tamil poetry anthology called Navarasam in 2017 and was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The Act stated that Navarasam promoted extremism, and Ahnaf was detained without charge for over a year. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice and European human rights ambassadors have called for his release.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
He was released on bail on December 15, 2021, though is still facing restrictions.[9]
Background
editThe Prevention of Terrorism Act was signed into law in 1982.[10] Before his arrest, Jazeem was working as a teacher at a private school in Puttalam.[11] He was living in a building owned by a Muslim charity organization called Save the Pearls, which police have tried to link to extremist movements.[9] In July 2017, he published the Tamil poetry collection Navarasam, which was never banned in Sri Lanka.[1]
He was arrested on 16 May 2020.[11]
International Response and Release
editA number of organizations, including Human Rights Watch, PEN International, Amnesty International, Article 19 and People for Equality and Relief in Lanka called for his release on May 16, 2021.[1]
On December 15, 2021, he was released on bail, though he remains unable to work due to the bail conditions.[9]
His arrest was ruled a violation of international law by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in June 2022.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Sri Lanka: Joint Statement Calls for Immediate Release of Poet Detained for a Year Without Charge". Human Rights Watch. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "SRI LANKA: POET DETAINED FOR ONE YEAR WITHOUT CHARGE: AHNAF JAZEEM". Amnesty. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "Jailed for a book of poems #FreeAhnaf". Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Rights groups call for immediate release of poet detained for a year without charge". Tamil Guardian. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "'Freeing' the freedom of expression and Ahnaf Jazeem". Nethmi Rajawasam. The Morning. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Poetic injustice: Another writer languishes in prison under PTA". FT. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Arrest of Mannar poet under PTA: Academics, writers and activists cry foul". FT. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "European human rights ambassadors call on Sri Lanka to release detained poet". Tamil Guardian. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Vimukthi Vidarshana; Shree Haran (20 February 2022). "Sri Lankan poet Ahnaf Jazeem jailed under anti-terror laws speaks with the WSWS". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ Sanjana Hattotuwa (2009). "Terrorised Media". Index on Censorship. 38: 40–44. doi:10.1080/03064220802712183. S2CID 220981961.
- ^ a b PAMODI WARAVITA (January 18, 2022). "TID officers said I'm a terrorist because I didn't own Buddhist books: Ahnaf Jazeem". Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its ninety-third session, 30 March April 2022" (PDF). Human Rights Council. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.