Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns targeting of Muslims in SL

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in a statement has strongly condemned the targeting of Muslims in Sri Lanka.

Following is the OIC’s statement.

The OIC General Secretariat expresses its deep concern over reports on escalating hate speech and hostility towards Muslims in Sri Lanka, the publication of allegations rejected by the members of the Muslim community as responsible for the spread of the new coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19) in this country, the authorities’ cremation of bodies of the Muslim victims of the pandemic, and the arrest of members of the community who reject these practices.

In this regard, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation reaffirms its position rejecting all policies and practices targeting the rights of Muslims anywhere, and calls on the authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the safety and security and rights of the Muslim community, a commitment to respect their practices and religious rituals, safeguard their dignity and stand firmly against all parties behind the promotion of hatred, Islamophobia, and anti-Muslim sentiment in Sri Lanka.

The organisation also stressed that the current global circumstance requires the involvement of all in strengthening the bonds of cooperation and the values of solidarity between countries, and strengthening cohesion and synergy among the components of each country, to collectively and effectively confront the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions on all societies.