Easter Sunday Mastermind Zahran’s widow granted bail after 4 years in custody

Thursday, 16 March 2023 01:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Kalmunai High Court granted bail to the widow of Zahran Hashim, the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attack yesterday.

Accordingly, the court ordered Fathima Hadiya to be released on bail under strict conditions. She has been in detention for nearly four years after being arrested in Sainthamaruthu following the attack orchestrated by her husband which took place on 21 April 2019 killing 268 people and wounding hundreds more. However, according to reliable sources, Hadiya is yet to be released from remand prison despite the court order.

There was no immediate response from the Department of Prisons explaining the delay in her release.

Abdul Qadir Fathima Hadiya was arrested by law enforcement officials after being discovered on 29 April 2019 after she and her daughter Mohamed Zahran Rusaina survived an explosion carried out by Zahran Hashim’s family members when the armed forces stormed their safe house in Sainthamaruthu.

She was later subjected to extensive interrogation by the Police and also recorded a confidential statement before the Colombo Fort Magistrate. Hadiya also testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday terror attacks in October 2020.

Her brother was also arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) following the attacks for allegedly receiving weapon training at Nuwara Eliya camp along with Zahran Hashim.