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Muslim leaders condemn bombings but plead that the whole community not be tarnished
Muslim leaders are speaking out against the atrocities committed by the Easter Sunday bombers while also urging other communities not to tar all Muslims with the same brush.
“There are so many things the Muslim community itself has to do,” said Ali Sabry, President’s Counsel. “There are no two words about it. Some reforms have to take place. This is a watershed moment for the Muslims. And a good opportunity for us to look back at the last 25 to 30 years and find out whether the way we have conducted ourselves is helpful or has not helped build a country where all citizens feel safe and secure.”
Mr Sabry referred to “Arabisation” and said it has led to Muslims unnecessarily taking the Arabic cultural aspect into their lives, thereby distancing themselves from mainstream Sri Lankan society. When that happens, he said, “there is distance between the parties and that creates doubt and suspicion of each other.”
It was time for Muslims to examine the way they have gone and, if there was anything wrong, see how it can be rectified without compromising their faith and the constitutionally guaranteed right to practise the religion.
On the flip side, it was a globally proven fact that to fight Islamic terrorists “you have to win the confidence of the Muslim community. You keep them on your side because that is how you will get their information and support rather than pushing them towards terrorists. That’s a huge responsibility.
“If you look at the progress of investigation or interrogation of people behind bars, they have confirmed that there was an upsurge of recruitment in the immediate aftermath of the Digana violence,” Mr Sabry said. “That shows extremism breeds extremism. Hate breeds hate. We have to be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”
There are many positive moves by the Muslim community that are not seen. All the terrorists were disowned and denied burial rights in the mosques. All important information was provided by Muslims, including about the Sammanthurai safe house.
“We need to empower that as opposed to, say, boycotting Muslim businesses saying they started the problem and putting these people in a corner,” Mr Sabry urged. “That will create more separation and one or two, out of desperation, can do crazy things. It is everyone’s responsibility to get together and fight this enemy.”
Except for a few people, 99 percent of Muslims have taken on the burqa ban in a positive manner. The black abaya is visibly reduced. “But if you go and touch their hijab, there can be resistance from the community,” he said.
The Madrasa Regulatory Act has already been presented to Cabinet. And the community is calling again for reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) to prevent underage marriage. “What we need right now is to take the Muslim community into confidence,” he urged. “It is not a time for anybody to do politics. This is a national calamity. And for anyone to govern, you must first have a country.”
The Muslim community also has to take responsibility for the racism which is prevalent now, said Hilmy Ahmed, Vice President of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka. “We have also changed as a community during the last 30 to 40 years,” he observed. “We have brought in a new culture which is alien to us with the Arabisation that has taken place–not necessarily because it was a community-initiated action, but because of the ease of travel and large number of expatriate labour. It has nothing to do with radicalisation but with people adopting the thinking that this is Islam.”
“People don’t realise or understand the difference between the culture and Islam,” Mr Ahmed continued. “It is important that Muslims look inwards to see where we have gone wrong. Why we have alienated ourselves to the extent that Sri Lankans of other communities see us as a threat.”
At the same time, there is a basic requirement for Muslim women to cover their head and body up to the wrists. That did not mean they must wear black or Saudi clothing. Even a decent shalwar would suffice. And the face veil, Mr Ahmed said, must go.
He said Muslim organisations were speaking with the Justice Ministry, the President and the Prime Minister and requesting them to issue circulars to public institutions to respect the need for Muslims to wear clothing that conforms with their religious obligations.