Controversial Buddhist Monk Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Insulting Islam

Galagodaatte Gnanasara, a prominent figure in Sri Lanka's Buddhist nationalist movement, has been sentenced to nine months in jail for derogatory comments made about Islam.

In a significant and rare legal ruling, Galagodaatte Gnanasara, a controversial figure associated with Buddhism's nationalist elements in Sri Lanka, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for insulting Islam and inciting religious hatred. The sentence was pronounced by the Colombo Magistrate's Court on Thursday based on Gnanasara's remarks made during a media conference in 2016.

This ruling marks a notable moment in a country where Buddhist monks are seldom prosecuted, and it represents the second incarceration for Gnanasara, who has faced numerous allegations linked to hate crimes and anti-Muslim aggression. The court's decision comes following Gnanasara’s previous presidential pardon in 2019, which absolved him from a six-year sentence related to intimidating and showing contempt towards the legal system.

In December, authorities arrested Gnanasara for the derogatory statements he had made regarding Islam over seven years ago. The court emphasized that all individuals, regardless of their religious beliefs, should enjoy the liberty of conscience as protected by the nation's Constitution. Along with the prison sentence, Gnanasara was also fined 1,500 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $5 USD). Failure to pay this fine would result in an additional month of incarceration.

Gnanasara, who was a close ally of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has appealed his sentencing. Under Rajapaksa's administration, he was appointed the head of a presidential task force intended to foster legal reforms for the safeguard of religious harmony. However, after Rajapaksa's resignation amid public protests due to economic turmoil in 2022, Gnanasara found himself facing similar charges related to hate speech targeting the Muslim minority.

In a previous conviction in 2018, he received a six-year sentence for contempt and intimidation against the spouse of a prominent political cartoonist, believed to have been forcibly disappeared. Yet, he only served a fraction of that sentence: nine months, owing to a pardon granted by then-President Maithripala Sirisena. Gnanasara's ongoing legal battles and his polarizing figure continue to evoke significant discussion and division within Sri Lankan society.