Freelance journalist R. F. M. Suhail has been admitted to the Nuwara Eliya District Hospital after being called to the congregation of the Meepilimaana Al Falan Jumma Masjid mosque in Nuwara Eliya and assaulted by a group of extremists.

The incident occurred on July 18 at around 1.30 pm. Following this attack Suhail filed a complaint with the Nuwara Eliya police and was admitted to the Nuwara Eliya District Hospital and receiving in house treatment. 

The newly appointed congregation of the Al Falan mosque had attacked Suhail for criticizing the constitution drafted in violation of the Mosques and Charitable Institutions Trust or Waqf Act No. 51 of 1956.

The members of the newly appointed Al Falan Mosque have been threatened with termination of their membership if they do not read and sign the constitution prepared by the newly appointed Al Falan Mosque and return the constitution within two weeks.

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Journalist Suhail was attacked by extremists Mohammed Ali and Mohammed Mubarak after he was summoned to discuss a letter he had sent to the Al Falan Mosque’s committee criticizing the authoritarian nature of the constitution drafted by the committee. Mubarak is a committee member of the mosque while Ali is only a member. Suhail told us that about 15 members of the committee, including the maulvi of the Al Falan Mosque, were present at the scene when Suhail was attacked.

Initially, the executive committee had read the letter of journalist Suhail and then Mohammed Ali had asked the journalist to withdraw the letter and threatened that if he did not withdraw the brakes of our lorries might also fail on the road. Suhail has questioned the moulavi is it right to threaten me after calling me for a discussion. .

“The constitution of this mosque is made in our own way. This is how it has been done for years. You cannot change the laws in your own way. If you cannot follow the way we say, then leave the village. Will you withdraw the letter?” the extremists had asked Suhail. When he stated that he would not withdraw the article, the extremists started to attack the journalist.

Ali and Mubarak, who attacked Suhail, surrendered to the police on 21 and were later released on bail after being produced before the court. The suspects who were released on bail had threatened Suhail’s wife and father.

Journalist Suhail is being attacked even though he was not at work, but he is being assaulted by restricting his right to express his views. The extremists have attacked him knowing that Suhail is a journalist. Media organizations, including those in Nuwara Eliya, are avoiding Suhail, saying that it is not a work-related matter. With his incident, the bankruptcy of media organizations has been exposed.

The letter sent by Suhail to the mosque executive committee is published below.