File photograph.
A 30-year-old Muslim man from Eravur was reportedly arrested by Sri Lankan police on December 15 after writing in his notebook a statement expressing his faith that "Allah will protect Palestine." Local media reported that the arrest has ignited discussions about freedom of expression and the interpretation of personal beliefs on the island.
The statement in question referenced the ongoing conflict in Palestine, suggesting that despite Israel’s military strength, Palestine would not be subjugated. Police reportedly detained the individual, citing suspicions of potential motives or opinions tied to his remarks.
This incident underscores a troubling trend of arrests linked to individual expressions of political or religious beliefs, particularly targeting minority communities. It is not the first such case in recent weeks.
Last month, Sri Lankan police arrested a young Tamil father, Manoharan Kajendroopan, from Jaffna under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The arrest followed a Facebook post where Kajendroopan had uploaded a photo of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Kajendroopan was detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) shortly after Maaveerar Naal commemorations.
The latest arrest comes on a backdrop of heightened security measures, particularly following reports of a plot to target Israeli tourists in Arugam Bay. In September, multiple embassies, including those of the United States, Britain, and Russia, issued travel advisories warning of potential terrorist attacks on tourist hotspots in Sri Lanka, with Israeli tourists specifically identified as a target.
Sri Lanka’s police confirmed that the alleged plot involved plans for a mass shooting at a controversial Israeli community center. The U.S. Department of Justice also unsealed charges against an individual accused of orchestrating the attack.