Court accepts complaint against Bullet Hla Swe for insult to religion

08 August 2019
Court accepts complaint against Bullet Hla Swe for insult to religion
Former member of the upper house of parliament Hla Swe speaks during a rally to denounce the US sanctions imposed on senior Myanmar military officials, in Yangon on 03 August, 2019. Photo: Thura/Mizzima

Kyauktada Township court accepted a direct complaint against Bullet aka Hal Swe, former upper house MP, lodged by Islamic faith leader Sann Aung over insulting religion.

Sann Aung lodged a direct complaint at Kyauktada Township court on August 7 against Hla Swe for his speech delivered at a protest rally held in front of Sule Park on August 3.

Sann Aung told media, “On my part, I gave a statement to court that the person called Bullet Hla Swe asked a question to audience present at the rally, ‘US embassy puts a mask on the face of Lord Buddha and also puts a mask on the face of Jesus Christ, and also to the Hindu god Shiva but they did not put a mask on messenger Mohammed, why?’. After getting replies from the audience, he replied ‘do you know why they dare not put a mask on Mohammed among these four main faiths? If they did this, Mohammed would explode bombs at their embassy. And then he asked a question again to the audience, ‘what religion is non-negotiable?’ Then the audience gave reply, Mohammed, Mohammed. I heard these voices. Many Muslims were very much upset with this speech. All Muslims at home and abroad were upset. We feel and think this is an insult to our religion.”

Sann Aung lodged direct complaint against Hla Swe for his speech under section 295(a) of Penal Code (insult to religion). Magistrate of Kyauktada Township court examined complainant Sann Aung and then the magistrate reportedly accepted the case.

Islam faith leader Sann Aung first lodged direct complaint at Mayangon Township court but the court rejected his complaint as this case was not in their jurisdiction and then he lodged this direct complaint at Kyauktada Township court again.

The court will give its verdict on whether this case should be admitted or not on August 21.