Lawyers for teen accused of trying to join ISIS plan to sue the government

Lawyers for the 15-year-old boy who was arrested earlier this month following allegations that he was planning to join Islamist terrorist group ISIS plan on suing the state.

The attorneys are to file a lawsuit seeking damages for false arrest and defamation of character and will write to the Attorney General this week to file a formal complaint.

“In respect of the child, I feel that there have been several breaches of his constitutional rights and his right as a CARICOM national. We intend to seek redress for those breaches from the relevant authorities,” said his attorney Zara Lewis.

She said that a lawsuit could also be filed against the Surinamese government for its role in the detention of the teen.

The teenager was taken into custody by the local police after he was denied entry into Suriname on April 12. He was ordered released by the Port Maria Children's Court last Wednesday.

Human Rights concerns

Human Rights Advocate Yvonne McCalla Sobers has also raised concern about the teenager's safety and has referred to various websites, which, she said, labeled him a terrorist.

Speaking on RJR's weekly news show - That's a Rap - on Sunday, Mrs. McCalla Sobers highlighted a website “that gives this youth’s village, the name of the village, his grandfather and his mother - you could name him. He is not being protected, as he ought to be, she said.

She also questioned what led to the youth being suspected of intending to join ISIS, in the first place.

“It was clearly circumstantial …. I think some of that paranoia needs to be addressed and we need to go by presumption of innocence.”