ACJU shows way forward for Muslim community post-Easter attacks

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), in a statement to mark one month since the horrific Easter Sunday attacks, has shown the way forward for the Muslim community in particular and the country in general. 

Following is the full statement signed by ACJU President Mufti M.I.M. Rizwe and Honorary Deputy President Ash-Shaikh A.C.M. Agar Mohamed.

The 21st of April brings to mind the horrific terrorist attacks committed on innocents praying in their churches and partaking in breakfast in hotels on Easter Sunday. We, ACJU, on behalf of the Muslim civil societies and the Muslim community, reiterate our vehement condemnation of the vicious attacks carried out by those terrorists who called themselves Muslims. 

We have been the first council of theologians in the world who condemned the Islamic State (IS), their ideology and their code of conduct in 2014. We still denounce this terrorist group and wish to reiterate that there is no place in Islam for any type of extremism or violence, and that they cannot be true adherents of Islam or call themselves Muslims, given the ideology and practice they promote.

Muslims have lived harmoniously with their brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka for over 1000 years. The inhuman and cowardly acts of a few terrorists in the name of Islam only helps the Muslim community to stand stronger together with all Sri Lankans and work towards defeating the agenda of dividing Sri Lankans and creating disharmony within communities. It is imperative that the Muslim community comes together to strengthen relations and work towards building trust between our brothers and sisters of every faith and race. Towards this the ACJU would like to request the Muslim community and the Masjid Trustees to implement the following for meaningful integration and peaceful co-existence between communities in Sri Lanka.

Strengthen and implement the concept of harmony centres in each Masjid as introduced by the ACJU in 2017.

Open your Masjids, Madrasas and Maktabs for all communities to visit and share values.

Implement Masjid-based projects to guide youth to become responsible citizens of our country

Masjids should be responsible for the Imam who conducts sermons and the contents of the sermons. While their sermons provide Islamic guidance, they should promote values of peaceful co-existence and being good and productive citizens with values and morals. The Masjids should only permit recognised, qualified religious leaders to deliver sermons. Their accreditation should be verified with ACJU.

The Muslim community should co-operate with law enforcement authorities, military and defence establishments to help maintain law and order and to help the security establishments to weed out all terrorists from our soil.

We remind the Muslim community to pray for those affected and their families in this difficult times and to pray for a peaceful Sri Lanka.