- Update info:
- 28 Apr 2016 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 10 Jun 2015
- Country:
- UNION OF MYANMAR
- Subject:
- Htin Lin Oo
Gender: m
- Period:
- 28 May 2016
- Distribution date:
- 10 Jun 2015
- UA No:
- 016/2015
Writer Htin Lin Oo has been sentenced to two years in prison for “insulting religion” after he made a speech criticising the use of Buddhism to promote discriminatory and extremist views. He is a prisoner of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released.
On 2 June 2015, writer Htin Lin Oo was sentenced by the Chaung-U Township Court to two years in prison with hard labour for “insulting religion” under Section 295(a) of Myanmar’s Penal Code. He was acquitted of the charge of “wounding religious feelings” under Section 298 of the Penal Code. Htin Lin Oo was the information officer of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Myanmar’s main opposition party, until he was removed from this position shortly after the criminal charges were filed against him.
Htin Lin Oo was convicted and sentenced for a speech he gave on 23 October 2014 at a literary event in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region, in which he criticized the use of Buddhism to promote discrimination and prejudice. The speech, which lasted about two hours, was heard by approximately 500 people. Soon after the event, a 10-minute edited video of the speech appeared on social media, causing outrage among extremist Buddhist nationalist groups.
Htin Lin Oo is currently imprisoned in Monywa prison in Sagaing Region. He will appeal the verdict.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Htin Lin Oo is a writer and former information officer for Myanmar’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). On 4 December 2014, Htin Lin Oo was charged by the Chaung-U Township Court after a complaint was filed against him by Township officials. He was charged with “insulting religion” under Section 295(a) of Myanmar’s Penal Code and with “wounding religious feelings” under Section 298 of the Penal Code. Htin Lin Oo was arrested and detained at his first court hearing on 17 December after being denied bail. Further requests for bail were rejected.
The right to freedom of expression is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). While international human rights law and standards permit certain restrictions to the right to freedom of expression, these restrictions are clearly defined and limited in scope: they must be provided by law; be limited to certain specified purposes such as national security, public order or respect of the rights or reputation of others, and necessary and proportionate to the achievement of one of those permissible purposes.
The prosecution and conviction of Htin Lin Oo do not meet the narrow human rights criteria for restricting the right to freedom expression, and therefore Myanmar is clearly violating this right. The case against Htin Lin Oo threatens to create an environment in which any discussions related to religion would be inhibited and comes amid growing religious tensions in the country.
National and international non-governmental organizations have raised concerns about extremist Buddhist nationalist groups using inflammatory language to incite hostility, violence, and discrimination against non-Buddhists. However, the authorities have yet to take concrete action to address this.
Amnesty International also continues to receive reports about poor prison conditions in Myanmar which fall below international standards. These include lack of access to adequate medical treatment, clean drinking water, nutritious food, and water for bathing. The organization calls on the Myanmar authorities to ensure that conditions of detention comply with those set out in the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and other international standards.
Name: Htin Lin Oo
Gender m/f: m
Further information on UA: 16/15 Index: ASA 16/1778/2015 Issue Date: 2 June 2015
- Update info:
- 28 Apr 2016 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 10 Jun 2015
- Country:
- UNION OF MYANMAR
- Subject:
- Htin Lin Oo
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 28 May 2016
- Distribution date:
- 28 Apr 2016
- UA No:
- 016/2015
Writer Htin Lin Oo has been released from prison following a Presidential pardon in Myanmar on 17 April.
Htin Lin Oo, writer and former spokesperson for the National League for Democracy (NLD), was released from Monywa prison in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region on 17 April. He was released as part of a Presidential pardon which saw the release of 83 prisoners, including prisoners of conscience Amnesty International has campaigned for.
Htin Lin Oo had been serving a two year prison sentence for “insulting religion” after he gave a speech on 23 October 2014 at a literary event in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region, in which he criticized the use of Buddhism to promote discrimination and prejudice. The speech, which lasted about two hours, was heard by approximately 500 people. Soon after the event a 10 minute edited video of the speech appeared on social media, causing outrage among extremist Buddhist nationalist groups. A complaint was filed against Htin Lin Oo at the Chaung-U Township police station, and on 2 June 2015, he was sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour for “insulting religion” under Section 295(a) of the Penal Code.
While Amnesty International welcomes Htin Lin Oo’s release, the fact remains that he should never have been arrested and imprisoned in the first place.
Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.
This is the first update of UA 16/15. Further information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ASA16/0005/2015/en/
Further information on UA: 16/15 Index: ASA 16/3862/2016 Issue date: 19 April 2016
