MAHIYANGANA Jummah Mosque has been ransacked
Extreme Buddhists groups have been targeting
minority communities in Sri Lanka recent times. These attacks on minority
communities have dramatically increased since government defeated LTTE. These attacks are perpetrated in the backdrop
of defeating LTTE. One wonders why these extremist groups are targeting
minority communities. What are the ulterior motives of such attacks? Do they
want to see one more social mayhem and turmoil in Sri Lanka? More importantly
why politicians and law enforcement agents do not take actions for these
attacks? Why criminals are not punished in these cases? Why is such
discriminative attitude towards minority communities? These are some of the questions that have been
puzzling minds of minority communities in this country. How long minority
community could maintain patience when their religious sentiments are being
attacks and communal dignity is being infringed? Where are those human right
communions that speak for the weak and vulnerable?
On 11/ 7/13 night Mahiyangane Arafa
Jummah was attacked by some unidentified gangs in SL. This was a well planned
and deliberate attack on a peaceful communal mosque and there was no any reason
for such attack except mere communal and religious hatred. This month is one of holiest months for
Muslims all other the world and Muslim people are generally devoting their time
in night time prayers and devotion. This attack happened soon after night time
prayers in the mosque. Why do these radical and extreme groups feel jealousy of
other people’s devotion in their religions? These are nothing but religious
jealousy and communal hatred. Some
elements among Buddhist community feel that Buddhism is in the brink of
extinction and for that reason they feel jealousy of other religious groups.
Rather than trying to put their house in order they are doing this anti- social
activities to create mayhem and upheaval among communities.
Singhalese people do not need to worry
about Islamic domination or cultural invasion. Muslims are not bound to force
any one into their religion and faith. Islamic teaching does not say to convert
people by force or indoctrination. Today, Singhalese people should have higher
level of moral than in any time Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan forces have defeated one
of the ruthless terrorist organizations in the world and they have defended the
sovereignty and integrity of the country. With such strong forces with them to
protect them why should they worry about minority people? Why should they worry
about cultural invasion rather they should take all necessary step to preserve
their culture and traditions.
It is reported that pig blood was
poured into mosque entrance to hurt Muslim religious feeling. It was also
reported that pig meat was thrown inside the mosques to upset the sentiment of
Muslims. These types of anti-social behaviour not only hurt religious feelings
of Muslims in Sri-Lanka rather these deliberate attack on religious sentiments
would hurt feelings of 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and they could create
far research consequences in long run and it would be better that Sri-Lanka
government take necessary action against all these people sooner rather than
later. It would be in the greater political interest of this government to stop
this as soon as possible.
I wonder what our Muslim politicians
do in these circumstances. While some Tamil politicians speak on behalf of
Muslim community it is peculiar that Muslim politicians feel offended when
Tamil politician speak for Muslim community.
I think that politicians from minority communities should work hand in
hand to address the challenges and problems of minorities in Sri Lanka today. The more we are divided the more minorities
will suffer in Sri Lanka at the hands of majority. This is the bitter reality
today in Sri Lanka.
It seems that this is a physiological war
against Muslim to bully them initially by means of intimidation and threats.
These people want to instigate violence and waiting to blame Muslims for any
unsocial behaviour. By the grace of Almighty Allah Muslims have been
maintaining patience and endurance. Thanks to the hard works of Muslim
religious leaders that we have been able to guide our youth and young generation.
There is no doubt beyond any dispute that the government is complicit of anti-Muslim campaign of hate in order to sustain their electoral clouts, especially in Sinhala majority areas, given the fact that war victory mania, after 4 years of successful decimation of LTTE, can no longer be marketed among the majority communities.
ReplyDeleteMajority of Muslim politicians are seen handcuffed or sealed their mouth as they have sold their souls and common sense to the perks and privileges provided by the government. In short, they have, as much as, disowned the community that elected them to parliament, and thus Tamil politicians such MP Sumanthiran and others are representing the Muslims raising their concerns over the attack on Masajids and other anti Muslims issues perpetrated by the racist monks and their patrons.
More importantly, it is surprising that the ACJU, which represents Muslims in Sri Lanka to guide the community on theological and social lines,becomes muted or subaltern in the face of recent attack on Mahiyangana mosque, though it has recently issued a communique condemning the attack on Buddha gaya in India.