Sunday Times 2
Azwer Haji will be remembered for his contribution to Muslim community
Former Muslim Affairs Minister Al Haj A.H.M. Azwer, one of the most colourful though lately controversial Muslim politicians, passed away on Tuesday August 29, 2017. His janaza took place the following day after Asr prayers at the Dehiwala Muslim burial grounds.
The Dehiwala mosque where the Janaza prayer took place was packed to its capacity with mourners. Among them was former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was seen seated in the mosque compound. He visited Azwer in hospital more than once and was seen at the hospital on the night Azwer passed away. It was not surprising of Mahinda Rajapaksa to mourn a man, who stood by him even at a time his government was being accused of harassing the Muslims. After all Azwer was one of those among those few Muslims, who publicly stood with the former President notwithstanding the hostility and isolation they encountered in Muslim circles. Azwer faced this with humility. The packed mourners who crowded Azwer’s funeral was typically demonstrative of the community’s standing that notwithstanding his relations with the former SLFP heavyweight, Azwer had earned, over a period of more than a half century, the encomiums of the Muslims.
From his early days as a stenographer at Malibans and BOAC while working as free-lance journalist for Thinakaran in the evening, later as coordinating secretary to the then Labour Minister M.H. Mohamed before joining Air Ceylon and later becoming private secretary to the Speaker of National State Assembly Mohamed Abdul Bakeer Markar, Azwer Haji has come a long way. His hard work paid and helped him to reach the pinnacle of his career when he became the Minister of Muslim Religious Affairs. His life story remains a source of inspiration for the younger generation keen on rising through the dint of sheer hard work.
As a journalist covering mainly Muslim affairs, he came into close contact with Muslim leaders such as Dr M.C.M Kaleel, who was the Chairman of United National Party, the late Minister and Speaker M.H. Mohamed and Speaker M.A. Bakeer Markar. However, he did not lose his touch with his grassroots friends till his death. This won him the hearts of even those who disagree with him on political matters.
As Minister of Muslim Affairs, he collected the parliamentary speeches of prominent Muslim parliamentarians such as T.B. Jayah, Speaker M.H. Ismail, Dr M.C.M Kaleel, A.C.S Hameed and Sir Razik Fareed and published them in book form. He also organised a special function to honour living Muslim artistes, writers and others besides taking numerous measures to help Hajj pilgrims. He, as Muslim Affairs Minister, was the first to organise state patronage for Haj pilgrimage which was an individual affair in the past.
No one can challenge his unstinted commitment to the Muslim community’s causes and service throughout his life.
However, he created controversy when he supported President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government after spending almost his entire life with the United National Party. I asked him the reason and this is what he told me: “As a politician I did not make money. My politics was clean politics. I am not sure whether the UNP will ever come to power and even if it did, I am not sure that Ranil Wickremesinghe will make me a parliamentarian. I will be able to serve the community more effectively if I am a parliamentarian. Therefore, with no better alternative I joined the Rajapaksa camp which was on the rise after defeating the LTTE.” This was Azwer Haji, a man of humble beginnings, of impeccable moral character with an abiding interest to serve the community.
However, he was caught in a dilemma when racist elements protected by the Rajapaksa government began attacking Muslims, burning mosques, madrasas, shops, business establishments and even grabbing Muslim owned prime property in Colombo. These racist attacks climaxed when innocent Muslims in Aluthgama, Dharga Town and Beruwala were attacked and their property burnt.
It was a difficult time for Azwer Haji and he told me that “When it comes to racism and hostility towards Muslims, my experience is, there is no difference between the UNP and the SLFP or Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe”. Judging from the failure to prosecute the culprits and the protection enjoyed by the Bodu Bala racists under the so-called Yahapalana government, his observation seems to be right.
Azwer was an ardent supporter of the Palestinians’ struggle for justice. He was against Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people and its occupation of Palestinian land. He regularly attended the meetings of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestinian People. In fact, a week before he passed away, he came from the Delmon Hospital to attend a meeting on Monday 22 August 2017 to organise an oratorical contest to mark the 100 years of the treacherous Balfour Declaration which planted Israel in Palestine and turned Middle East into a killing field. After the meeting ended, Azwer went back to hospital, and later he was transferred to another private hospital where his admirable innings were concluded by the Almighty.
At the funeral, the community had spoken loudly enough in praise of his life time services to the community. May the Almighty Allah grant him Jennatul Firdouse!