Sri Lanka Sentences Controversial Monk Galagodaatte Gnanasara to 9 Months in Prison for Anti-Muslim Remarks
Gnanasara, a prominent figure known for his inflammatory rhetoric against Muslims, was previously convicted in 2021 for inciting religious hatred.
A Sri Lankan court has sentenced the controversial Buddhist monk Galagodaatte Gnanasara to nine months in prison for making derogatory remarks about Islam, dating back to 2016.
This conviction marks his second imprisonment for similar offences, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding religious and ethnic divisions in the country.
Gnanasara, a prominent figure known for his inflammatory rhetoric against Muslims, was previously convicted in 2021 for inciting religious hatred. He has been associated with the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), a nationalist group that has been linked to anti-Muslim violence and sentiments in Sri Lanka. Despite his previous convictions, he was released on bail while appealing a four-year sentence,
His latest sentencing comes amid heightened scrutiny of religious intolerance in Sri Lanka, particularly against the Muslim community, which constitutes over 10% of the island’s population.
The monk’s influence had waned following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, but his legal troubles have persisted.
