September 16, Colombo (LNW): Mohamed Suhail, a 21-year-old student of aviation from Mawanella, has been acquitted by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court after spending nine months in detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), in connection with a social media post expressing opposition to Israel.
Suhail was originally taken into custody in October 2024 near the Israeli consular premises in Dehiwala. At the time, he was briefly held for failing to carry his national identity card, a matter which was resolved in court. However, he was re-arrested shortly thereafter under the PTA, reportedly due to an Instagram post that depicted the Israeli flag being stepped on — a post authorities interpreted as potentially inciting hatred or unrest.
Following extensive legal proceedings and prolonged detention, Suhail was granted bail on July 15, 2025. The case resumed today (16), where Attorney-at-Law Ilham Hassanali, appearing on behalf of the accused through the Lawyers for Social Justice organisation, petitioned the court for a full acquittal.
Counsel argued that police investigations had failed to uncover any evidence of criminal activity linked to the social media content in question, and therefore, it would be unjust to allow the proceedings to continue.
“It is both legally and morally indefensible to keep this young man entangled in a legal process when the police themselves have reported no crime has been committed,” the defence submitted during the hearing.
The Magistrate accepted the submission and ordered that Suhail be discharged and acquitted of all charges under the PTA, effectively bringing the controversial case to a close at the lower court level.
Meanwhile, in a move to seek redress for what is being described by rights advocates as a misuse of anti-terrorism laws, the Lawyers for Social Justice have filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court. Notices have already been issued in relation to the case.
