A Muslim surgeon has been accused of performing sterilisation surgeries on non-Muslim women without their knowledge or consent.
More than 50 women have made complaints against Dr Siyabdeen Mohammed Safi, 42, who worked at Kurunegala Hospital in Sri Lanka. Some of the women have accused the doctor of sterilising them during a standard Caesarean procedure.
Numerous reports have suggested that thousands of women may have unknowingly undergone the procedure known as Tubal Ligation. The surgery involves the clamping, blocking, or sealing of the fallopian tubes in order to prevent fertilized eggs from reaching the uterus for implantation.
The 42-year-old surgeon was arrested by Kurunegala Police last week for amassing unusually large sums of money and assets. According to reports, police will be investigating whether the money was obtained from a terrorist organisation.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health has launched a special committee to investigate the allegations, comprised of gynaecologists and representatives of the Sri Lanka Medical Council.