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GTF condemns anti-Muslim hysteria
View(s):The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has expressed its condemnation of the violence and intimidation directed against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.
Issuing a statement, the GTF states that it expresses strong condemnation of the anti-Muslim hatred and hysteria being whipped up by sections of the Sinhala Buddhist community, and called on the Sri Lankan authorities to take immediate steps to arrest this dangerous development.
The statement notes, with the end of the civil war in 2009, the Muslim community became the prime target of the extremist elements among the Sinhala Buddhist community, and this was aided and abetted by powerful forces within the majority community.
“Our strong conviction is that the numerically minority communities, and their political leaders, need to work together and in partnership with progressive forces from the majority community to regain their safety, rights and pride of place in the country. The political and religious leaders representing the majority community need to act beyond pandering to extremist elements, with a vision to create equality among all communities. The international community, too, should play its part in ensuring that Sri Lanka does not slide into another dark age of ethnic and religious intolerance and violence. This is essential for peace in Sri Lanka,” the GTF asserts.