(UTV | COLOMBO) – Sri Lankan media and social media channels have recently been reporting baseless, slanderous and defamatory claims. The target of this disinformation campaign is Prof. Dr. Lukman Thalib and his son Ahmed Talib, both Australian nationals (who hold no other nationality), who are being unlawfully associated with names that carry heavy charges, such as terror charges, who are completely unknown to them and with whom they have no ties. Prof. Thalib and his son have no relation with violence or terror groups or with any terror plots that have taken place. Our client’s fundamental rights, reputation and honour have been violated and his safety has been placed at risk.
Prof. Dr. Lukman Thalib is a scientist whose life is full of success stories in trying to find ways and means to save life. He has been living outside of Sri Lanka since 1986. He completed his Master’s degree and doctorate education in the UK and thrived in his academic career. He has been involved in scientific studies and continued his academic career in many countries including Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, USA and Sweden. He had been a visiting fellow researching on “Breast Cancer Research” at a Nobel prize-winning institute in Sweden. His scientific works have been published in renowned medical journals known worldwide in the field of medicine, including LANCET. For many years he worked as a scientist on evidence-based medicine, public health and medical education in Kuwait and Qatar and finally served as a member of the National Scientific Board during the Covid-19 pandemic period. He is a Biostatistics professor and is known in Gulf countries and many universities around the world. He has many awards in these fields.
Prof. Thalib has spent most of his life outside of Sri Lanka over the past 20 years. His only connection with his country has been his very brief visits to his mother. This continued until the passing away of his mother.
Prof. Thalib has spent his life on the protection of human life and human health. He dedicated his life to scientific work on the protection of all humans around the world regardless of their faith, religion or race. Our client is diagnosed with leukaemia. Such publications of such disinformation-like news about him and his son has greatly upset and worn him, and worsens his condition, putting his life at risk.
Prof. Thalib believes that the Sri Lankan government and judiciary has the responsibility towards the relatives of those who lost their lives as well as the general Sri Lankan people to enlighten the truth about heinous terrorist attacks which deeply upset him.
Prof. Thalib with the backing of his legal team have begun all legal processes to challenge the numerous violations that have taken place against himself and his family. Prof. Dr. Lukman Thalib and his family are innocent. They believe they have been made a scapegoat for crimes that they have not committed.
Attorney Gulden Sonmez
Representative of Prof. Dr. Lukman Talib Legal Team
