IBAHRI urges Sri Lanka to abide by due process in the case of Mr Heejaz Hizbullah

In an open letter to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice, the Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has called upon the country’s government to abide by due process and uphold the rule of law in the case of Sri Lankan lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah.

In violation of due process rights as established in both domestic and international law, the letter states that: ‘Mr Hizbullah was reportedly not informed of the reason for his arrest, was not served a detention order until 25 April 2020 and was not presented before a magistrate within the requisite 72 hours as required by sections 7 and 9 of the PTA. Further, he has been denied access to legal counsel after being permitted only three brief meetings on 15, 16 and 28 April 2020. These meetings took place in breach of legal professional privilege’. The IBAHRI upholds that: ‘while entirely necessary for the Sri Lankan government to investigate the Easter Sunday attacks, international law, the Sri Lankan Constitution and due process must be observed in this process.’

The IBAHRI urges the Government of Sri Lanka to respect the independence of lawyers and their right to exercise freedom of expression, as part of their vital role holding the government to account. This year marks 30 years since the adoption of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the IBA Standards for the Independence of the Legal Profession, which uphold the rights of lawyers to be able to carry out their professional responsibilities. Part of the latter instrument is the ‘protection of the lawyer’s files and documents from seizure or inspection’ and the defence of the rights of lawyers ‘to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law and the administration of justice.’

The open letter, signed by IBAHRI Co-Chairs The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG and Anne Ramberg Dr jur hc, forms part of the IBAHRI’s ongoing concerns regarding the rule of law, the rights of lawyers and the PTA in Sri Lanka. Following a rapid-response fact-finding mission in 2013, the IBAHRI published a report highlighting the country’s ‘longstanding official hostility’ towards members of the legal profession who express legitimate criticism of the government, the right to which is protected by the Constitution.

The letter concludes with the following statement: ‘The IBAHRI calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to follow due process in the detention of lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah, to allow him regular access to his legal counsel and respect legal professional privilege. Whilst the eyes of the world are diverted to addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, the IBAHRI is committed to upholding the rule of law and defending human rights.’

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

1. Click here to download a PDF of the open intervention letter.
2. Click here to view related items on the IBAHRI’s work in Sri Lanka: www.ibanet.org/Human_Rights_Institute/Work_by_regions/Asia_Pacific/Sri_Lanka
3. IBAHRI Co-Chair The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG was a Justice of the High Court of Australia (1996-2009) and has previously held international posts including as Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council on North Korea (2013-2014).
4. IBAHRI Co-Chair Anne Ramberg Dr jur hc is the Immediate Past Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association (2000-2019) and has held a number of assignments including as an ad hoc judge of the European Court of Justice.
5. The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), an autonomous and financially independent entity, works to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.
6. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
7. Follow the IBAHRI on Twitter here: twitter.com/IBAHRI

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