(Photo Credit: Virakesari.lk)
Sri Lankan police in Akkaraipattu, Ampara, blindfolded and beat freelance journalist Shahir Khan Farook and his brother for reportedly not wearing masks.
The attack occurred on Thursday when Farook left his home to collect the news. During the attack, the police smashed his camera.
The attack follows a damning report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which has highlighted how the police have abused their authority under the guise of COVID-19 prevention. The abuses HRW document include arbitrary arrests, police brutality, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
Amnesty International has further detailed how Sri Lanka has responded to the pandemic by attempting to silence journalists and healthcare workers.
Read more here.
