Sri Lankan activist Sameera Mahboobdeen shares chilling detention ordeal

• Says “What we experienced was only 1% of what Palestinians go through”

 By Amira Cader

Activist Sameera Mahboobdeen yesterday shared a harrowing account of the violence, fear, and uncertainty endured by her and hundreds of others during a traumatic ordeal that allegedly left many physically and emotionally scarred.

Speaking after returning home to a hero’s welcome, Mahboobdeen recounted the injuries, chaos, and intimidation faced by nearly 400 activists who were caught in what she described as a terrifying and deeply distressing situation.

“We identified the fractures throughout my body and the doctors confirmed them,” Mahboobdeen said.

According to Mahboobdeen, the situation rapidly deteriorated as panic and confusion spread, particularly during the nights.

“We decided that we would not allow anyone else to speak to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) because they were threatening us,” she said. “Only the medical professionals communicated with them.”

However, Mahboobdeen noted that even those communications allegedly resulted in further aggression and fear among the group.

“Every time we spoke to them, the violence escalated further. The anxiety and fear were overwhelming,” she said.

Describing the alleged treatment inside detention facilities, Mahboobdeen claimed that abuse continued even after detainees were removed from their cells and taken into tents.

“When we were taken out of the cells and into the tents, the torture continued,” she alleged. “They were laughing and singing while people were suffering.”

She further noted that several detainees sustained severe injuries during the ordeal.

“One person sustained nearly 50 burn injuries because of the torture caused by Taser guns. Several women suffered broken bones,” Mahboobdeen claimed.

According to Mahboobdeen, more than 400 activists witnessed the alleged abuse and are prepared to testify internationally regarding what they experienced.

“We have more than 400 people who witnessed this, and we are ready to testify anywhere,” she stated.

She also alleged that detainees witnessed severe acts of violence involving dogs being used during interrogations and abuse inside the detention facilities.

“They had dogs — attack dogs. We witnessed what happened during the torture,” she claimed.

Describing the detention conditions, Mahboobdeen said many detainees were unable to sleep due to constant movement and fear.

“In the tents, they kept shifting us from one cell to another every 20 minutes, nobody could sleep,” she explained. 

She also recalled seeing markings and drawings on the prison walls that appeared to have been left behind by previous detainees.

“There were drawings and writing on the walls; seeing that made everything feel even more heartbreaking,” she said.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Mahboobdeen said their experience represented only a fraction of the suffering endured daily by Palestinians living under conflict.

“What we experienced was only 1% of what Palestinians go through; just imagine what the people of Palestine endure every single day,” she said. 

In her final remarks, Mahboobdeen condemned the alleged abuse and called for greater global awareness and accountability.

“No human being deserves to go through this,” she said.

Earlier last Thursday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed “deep concern and profound distress” over footage posted by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which allegedly showed the dehumanising treatment of detainees linked to the flotilla.

In a statement, the Ministry said Sri Lanka was engaging with the Israeli Foreign Ministry through diplomatic channels to secure immediate consular access to Mahboobdeen, while also seeking assurances regarding her safety, wellbeing, dignity, and swift repatriation.

Mahboobdeen had left Sri Lanka in April to join the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international solidarity mission involving activists from nearly 100 countries seeking to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza.