Writer probed for radical links

Saturday, 03 April 2010 20:58

A Sri Lankan woman taken into custody last month for writing books about her conversion to Islam for Buddhism is being investigated for possible links to Islamic extremists, police said Saturday.

Last weekend, police said the woman, identified as Malini Perera, was taken into custody under tough emergency laws over allegations of "anti-state" activities but they did not elaborate.

But on Saturday, police spokesman Prashantha Jayakody said Perera was being held while police investigate "possible links to Islamic militants."

"She has not been formally charged yet because police are still investigating the case," Jayakody told AFP. He accused the writer of "insensitive religious writings."

The author, a native Sri Lankan who is resident in Bahrain, was detained while holidaying on the island after trying to mail copies of her books to undisclosed recipients abroad.

The books are titled "From Darkness to Light" and "Questions and Answers." Perera's lawyer, Lakshan Dias, said the writer was a victim of religious intolerance.

"Her writings don't insult any religion. They're a collection of opinion pieces on the way Buddhism is being practised," Dias told AFP.

He rejected allegations that his client had any links to religious extremists

Case dropped against author       By ANIQA HAIDER ,  Posted on » Sunday, May 22, 2011

A BAHRAIN-based author who was stranded in Sri Lanka for nearly 14 months after being accused of blasphemy has had the case against her dropped. Sarah Malanie Perera was detained via emergency laws in Colombo in March last year for alleged "anti-state" activities and links to Islamic militants. She was locked up for two months before being released on 50,000 rupees bail (BD180), but was banned from leaving the country. The 39-year-old was arrested for the publication of a book, which described her conversion from Buddhism to Islam. Lawyer Lakshan Dias confirmed she had been released and was already back in Bahrain. "Ms Perera was released by the Colombo Magistrate and she left the country on the same night," he told the GDN from Sri Lanka. "She was released on the order of Attorney-General's Department where the authorities decided to drop charges. "The release order was received by the Magistrate's Court last month according to the record, but the staff failed to submit the documents on time. "An eminent lawyer and prominent figure in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Nizam Kariapper intervened and confirmed documents were submitted to the court and subsequently she was released." Ms Perera could not be reached for comment and Mr Dias confirmed he had not had contact with her since she returned to Bahrain. He said her sister Najmah e-mailed him to confirm the author had reached home safely, but was keeping a low profile due to the unrest. Ms Perera was on holiday in Sri Lanka when she was arrested for trying to post copies of her books From Darkness to Light and Questions and Answers to Bahrain. They focus on her conversion to Islam and the original teachings of Buddha. She was charged via two sections of a law that makes it illegal to insult religion and was facing up to three years in jail, if convicted. But Ms Perera, who first came to Bahrain in 1985, denied having any links to Islamic extremists and claimed she was being victimised for exercising her freedom of expression. She earlier said she had only gone to Sri Lanka to assist her elder sister Mariam, who owned a gift and flowers shop. Mr Dias previously argued his client had no intention of insulting the Buddhist faith and there were no grounds for a criminal case. She embraced Islam in 1999 after studying religion at Discover Islam. Her father Norbet Perera, mother Soma and sisters Padma, Rasa, Padmani and Malanie also later converted to Islam. They are now called Mohammed, Aisha, Fatima, Raihana, Fowzia and Najmah respectively. aneeqa@gdn.com.bh

Case dropped against author       By ANIQA HAIDER ,  Posted on » Sunday, May 22, 2011

A BAHRAIN-based author who was stranded in Sri Lanka for nearly 14 months after being accused of blasphemy has had the case against her dropped. Sarah Malanie Perera was detained via emergency laws in Colombo in March last year for alleged "anti-state" activities and links to Islamic militants. She was locked up for two months before being released on 50,000 rupees bail (BD180), but was banned from leaving the country. The 39-year-old was arrested for the publication of a book, which described her conversion from Buddhism to Islam. Lawyer Lakshan Dias confirmed she had been released and was already back in Bahrain. "Ms Perera was released by the Colombo Magistrate and she left the country on the same night," he told the GDN from Sri Lanka. "She was released on the order of Attorney-General's Department where the authorities decided to drop charges. "The release order was received by the Magistrate's Court last month according to the record, but the staff failed to submit the documents on time. "An eminent lawyer and prominent figure in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Nizam Kariapper intervened and confirmed documents were submitted to the court and subsequently she was released." Ms Perera could not be reached for comment and Mr Dias confirmed he had not had contact with her since she returned to Bahrain. He said her sister Najmah e-mailed him to confirm the author had reached home safely, but was keeping a low profile due to the unrest. Ms Perera was on holiday in Sri Lanka when she was arrested for trying to post copies of her books From Darkness to Light and Questions and Answers to Bahrain. They focus on her conversion to Islam and the original teachings of Buddha. She was charged via two sections of a law that makes it illegal to insult religion and was facing up to three years in jail, if convicted. But Ms Perera, who first came to Bahrain in 1985, denied having any links to Islamic extremists and claimed she was being victimised for exercising her freedom of expression. She earlier said she had only gone to Sri Lanka to assist her elder sister Mariam, who owned a gift and flowers shop. Mr Dias previously argued his client had no intention of insulting the Buddhist faith and there were no grounds for a criminal case. She embraced Islam in 1999 after studying religion at Discover Islam. Her father Norbet Perera, mother Soma and sisters Padma, Rasa, Padmani and Malanie also later converted to Islam. They are now called Mohammed, Aisha, Fatima, Raihana, Fowzia and Najmah respectively. aneeqa@gdn.com.bh

Ex-detainees claim AFP officer present at torture

Joel Keep and Rebecca Leaver

Story Added : 21st April 2011

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has expressed concern over the conduct of security forces working in cooperation with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Sri Lanka.

Two former Christmas Island detainees arrested by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after they were deported from Australia in 2009 claim to have been abused by members of the unit in the presence of an AFP officer.
Their lawyer, Lakshan Dias, says CID officers beat the men with wooden planks and threatened to rape their family members.
He says an AFP agent was visiting the CID headquarters in Colombo at the time.
"I was tortured. I was unable to pass urine for two days. I had unbearable pain in my body," said one of the men, Sumith Mendis, 31.
The CID denies the allegations.
The AFP has been providing the CID with equipment, training and intelligence support in an effort to combat people smuggling in the area, as civilians attempt to flee Sri Lanka following the end of the country's brutal 26-year civil war.
Mr Mendes and fellow ex-detainee Lasantha Wijeratna are being held at the country's Negombo prison, charged with illegally attempting to flee Sri Lanka.
Prior to their imprisonment they spent more than seven months on Christmas Island after leaving for Australia on a fishing vessel in 2009.
They were arrested by Sri Lankan authorities in August 2010 after attempting to flee the country a second time.
The AFP strenuously denies witnessing the abuse but has confirmed one of its officers was in the building at the time.
"The AFP can confirm records indicate an AFP officer was present in the building on the day the offence was alleged to occur," a spokesman told the ABC.
"At no stage did the AFP officer witness any mistreatment by CID officers of any persons held in custody.
"As part of the Sri Lankan legal process, all defendants appearing before court must first be examined by a judicial medical officer. The AFP has no knowledge of any concerns being raised."
However, Amnesty International reported in March 2010 that the two men were hospitalised at the recommendation of a judicial officer.
According to the men's lawyer, the AFP would have been aware of the abuses being carried out at the CID headquarters that day.
"There is no reason that the particular AFP officer [would] not have seen the interrogation and atrocities towards my clients, and my clients told me that they saw the AFP officer [witness] this interrogation," Mr Dias said