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Thirteen organisations issue joint statement calling for the immediate release of poet Ahnaf Jazeem

16 May 2021

In a joint statement released by Amnesty International, thirteen organisations have expressed deep concern about the ongoing detention of poet and teacher, Ahnaf Jazeem, who has now been detained for a year without charge.  The organisations are as follows - 
  • PEN International
  • Amnesty International
  • The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice
  • Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka
  • The International Working Group on Sri Lanka
  • International Truth and Justice Project - Sri Lanka
  • The Center for Justice and Accountability
  • Australian Centre for International Justice 
  • Article 19
  • Human Rights Watch
  • IMADR
  • PEARL
  • Freemuse
An excerpt from the statement is included below: “One year into his detention, the authorities have yet to bring forth any evidence that substantiates their allegations against Ahnaf Jazeem. In the event the authorities do possess credible and admissible evidence that Jazeem has committed an internationally recognised crime, they must promptly charge him, assuring him due process and the right to a fair trial in accordance with international standards so that he has an opportunity to prove his innocence. In the absence of such evidence, they must immediately release him,”  


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