February 10, 2023, Colombo: The Colombo Magistrate discharged the former President of the Sri Lanka Jamaathe Islami, Usthaz Rasheed Hajjul Akbar, from all charges filed against him pertaining to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
During a recent hearing of his Fundamental Rights application at the Supreme Court, the Attorney General’s Department informed the court that it had advised the Terrorism Investigation Division(TID) to withdraw all the charges filed against Akbar. The Sri Lanka Jamaathe Islami issued a statement stating that the Colombo Magistrate discharged Usthaz Rasheed Hajjul Akbar on Wednesday.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday attacks had made certain charges against Akbar based on the evidence and recommended further inquiries and instituting legal action against him. Subsequently, he was arrested and detained for investigation.
Akbar challenged his arrest and detention at the Supreme Court as illegal and a violation of his Fundamental Rights. As an interim relief, he was released on bail in January 2022 and discharged from all charges.
