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Buddha tattoo woman Naomi Coleman wins compensation | Buddha tattoo woman Naomi Coleman wins compensation |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman who was deported from Sri Lanka for having a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm has won compensation. | A woman who was deported from Sri Lanka for having a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm has won compensation. |
Naomi Coleman, from Coventry, was detained for four days in April 2014. | Naomi Coleman, from Coventry, was detained for four days in April 2014. |
Granting her compensation of 800,000 Sri Lankan rupees - about £4,000 - the country's Supreme Court said her treatment was "scandalous and horrifying" and ruled her rights had been violated. | Granting her compensation of 800,000 Sri Lankan rupees - about £4,000 - the country's Supreme Court said her treatment was "scandalous and horrifying" and ruled her rights had been violated. |
Ms Coleman told the BBC Sinhala Service she was "overwhelmed" by the ruling. | |
Officers involved in her arrest were also ordered to pay her compensation. | Officers involved in her arrest were also ordered to pay her compensation. |
Ms Coleman, a mental health nurse, took legal action against the Sri Lankan authorities after her return to the UK. | Ms Coleman, a mental health nurse, took legal action against the Sri Lankan authorities after her return to the UK. |
The court ruled there was "no legal basis" for her arrest and said she had been subject to "degrading treatment" by some officers and a prison guard. | The court ruled there was "no legal basis" for her arrest and said she had been subject to "degrading treatment" by some officers and a prison guard. |
In particular, one guard had "made several lewd, obscene and disparaging remarks of a sexually-explicit nature" towards Ms Coleman, while some police officers had forced her to give them money. | In particular, one guard had "made several lewd, obscene and disparaging remarks of a sexually-explicit nature" towards Ms Coleman, while some police officers had forced her to give them money. |
'Really frightened' | 'Really frightened' |
Her lawyer JC Weliamuna told the BBC her deportation had been "contrary to the law governing immigration and emigration". | Her lawyer JC Weliamuna told the BBC her deportation had been "contrary to the law governing immigration and emigration". |
Ms Coleman, who was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, said previously the detention had left her "really frightened". | Ms Coleman, who was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, said previously the detention had left her "really frightened". |
She told the BBC on Wednesday she was "shocked" and "emotional" on hearing the news. | She told the BBC on Wednesday she was "shocked" and "emotional" on hearing the news. |
"Finally the court has actually seen it that I didn't do anything wrong," Ms Coleman said. | "Finally the court has actually seen it that I didn't do anything wrong," Ms Coleman said. |
Asked whether she would go back to Sri Lanka, she replied: "I'm not sure, I don't know. Probably not. | Asked whether she would go back to Sri Lanka, she replied: "I'm not sure, I don't know. Probably not. |
"I'm very happy. I just wouldn't want it to happen to anybody else." | "I'm very happy. I just wouldn't want it to happen to anybody else." |
After an order was made to have her deported, Ms Coleman spent a night in prison in Negombo and two nights in a detention centre while security checks were carried out. | After an order was made to have her deported, Ms Coleman spent a night in prison in Negombo and two nights in a detention centre while security checks were carried out. |
She said she told police she practised Buddhism and had attended meditation retreats and workshops in Thailand, India, Cambodia and Nepal. | She said she told police she practised Buddhism and had attended meditation retreats and workshops in Thailand, India, Cambodia and Nepal. |
Sri Lankan authorities take strict action against perceived insults to Buddhism, which is the religion of most of the island's Sinhalese population. | Sri Lankan authorities take strict action against perceived insults to Buddhism, which is the religion of most of the island's Sinhalese population. |