Sufi Muslims claim they complained to President, PM on Zahran's call to kill non-Muslims

An organization representing Sufi Muslims complained about Zahran Hashim's call to kill non-Muslims to both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in March, 2017, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) looking into the Easter Sunday attacks was told yesterday. 

By Sandun Jayawardana

An organization representing Sufi Muslims complained about Zahran Hashim's call to kill non-Muslims to both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in March, 2017, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) looking into the Easter Sunday attacks was told yesterday. 

Giving evidence before the PSC, Moulavi K.R.M Sahlan, Secretary of the Al Haj Abdul Jawadh Alim Waliyyullah Trust stated that Zahran had made several incendiary public speeches in December, 2016 and in February and early March, 2017.

In the speeches, Zahran had stated that hoisting the national flag was a threat to the Islamic State, that there is no room for patriotism for one's country in Islam and that non-Muslims should be killed and that Muslims should seize power in the country, Moulavi Sahlan also said that Zahran had posted a speech on his Facebook page on March 2, 2017 stating that jihad was mandatory for all Muslims. 

After the clash between Zahran's National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) and Sufi Muslims in Kattankudy on March 10, 2017, Mr Sahlan said they went through social media and found the speeches made by Zahran calling for violence against non-Muslims.

"We submitted a written complaint to the President's Office regarding Zahran's speeches to the President's Office on March 27, 2017. We also handed over CDs containing three of Zahran's speeches," the Secretary told the Committee. 

The same complaint was also handed over to the Prime Minister's Office, the offices of then Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Law and Order Minister Sagala Rathnayaka, State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General's Department, he also revealed. 

"We received responses from the PM's office and the AG's Department, acknowledging our complaints and stating that the matter will be looked into. None of the other places sent even a response," Moulavi Sahlan claimed. 

He further claimed that Zahran had used a "Fatwa" (ruling) issued by All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) in 1979 to justify attacks on Sufi Muslims. "The Fatwa says that Sufis are not Muslims and it is permissible to kill them as they had willingly changed their religion. This Fatwa is still valid," the Secretary revealed.