The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has expressed that it is “pleased” over the decision to release Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen on bail, while highlighting that it will closely monitor Bathiudeen’s trial.
Such sentiments were expressed by the IPU through a tweet on Monday (18).
Rishad Bathiudeen, Member of Parliament and Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress was arrested by the CID on 24th April 2021 under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979. He was detained for a total of 177 days before he was finally released on bail on 14th October.
Being a Parliamentarian, the case of Rishad Bathiudeen had drawn the attention of the IPU. The IPU is an international organization comprising of 179 national Parliaments and 13 regional Parliamentary assemblies from all over the globe.
Having been established in 1889, the primary goal of the IPU has been to promote democratic governance and accountability. It also has permanent observer status in the United Nations General Assembly. The IPU has considerable influence in the affairs of the United Nations and has contributed towards numerous resolutions of the General Assembly.
The investigations of the IPU are still ongoing and have not been made public. It is likely the IPU would take up the case of arbitrary arrest of Rishad Bathiudeen in its upcoming session in November, in Spain.
Earlier, Secretary General of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Martin Chungong, wrote to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka requesting for permission for an international observer representing the IPU to follow remotely the hearing on the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition of MP Rishad Bathiudeen.
Inter-Parliamentary Union “pleased” over Bathiudeen’s release on bail
21 Oct 2021
Inter-Parliamentary Union “pleased” over Bathiudeen’s release on bail
21 Oct 2021