• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: CHARGE OR RELEASE STUDENT MOHAMED IMRAN (Sri Lanka: UA 42.22)

May 12, 2022

Mohamed Imaam Mohamed Imran was 20 years old when he was detained, on May 9, 2019, under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Three years after his arrest, the now 23-year-old has still not been charged with an offence, and the state has yet to provide any evidence of him committing an internationally recognizable crime. Mohamed Imran must be immediately released, or promptly charged with recognizable offense, in accordance with international standards.

TAKE ACTION:
  1. Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on July 7, 2022.
  2. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  3. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 42.22. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Director of Terrorism Investigation Division Mr. A.R.P.J. Alwis No. 149, Bootani Capital Building, Polhengoda, Colombo 05 Sri Lanka Fax: +94 11 2384403 Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe Embassy of Sri Lanka 3025 Whitehaven Street NW Washington, DC 20008 Phone: 202 483 4025 I Fax: 202 232 7181 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @EmbassyofSL ; @ambsamarasinghe Facebook: @slembassyusa Salutation: Dear Ambassador
 
SAMPLE LETTER Dear Mr. A.R.P.J Alwis, I write in relation to the case of Mohamed Imaam Mohamed Imran, a computer engineering student, who was arrested by the police in Kattankudy on May 9, 2019, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), when he was just 20-years-old. Three years since his detention, Imran is yet to be charged and the state has not produced any evidence of him committing an internationally recognizable crime. This is a violation of Imran’s rights to be free from arbitrary arrest, and to be promptly informed of any charges against him. According to Imran’s family, upon his arrest, no arrest receipt or detention order was provided to them. A detention order was only issued to Imran on March 29, 2022, two years and ten months after Imran’s arrest. These procedural lapses, along with abusive provisions within the PTA, violate due process safeguards and international human rights law. Imran has only been produced in court four times since his arrest, the last time being September 2021. The lack of judicial oversight and prolonged administrative detention in this case leaves Imran at risk of torture or other ill-treatment at the hands of the police. The prolonged detention without charge of Mohamed Imaam Mohamed Imran is a violation of international fair trial standards and the authorities’ legal obligations in line with Sri Lanka’s obligations under the ICCPR. I therefore urge you to release Mohamed Imaam Mohamed Imran, or if there is sufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing, promptly charge him with a recognisable offence, in accordance with international standards. Pending release or charge, authorities must ensure his fair trial rights are guaranteed, that he has the right to challenge the lawfulness of his detention, and has access to fair bail hearings. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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