Muslim Council urges Indian envoy to clarify position on Islamic terror groups
Monday, 7 July 2014 01:03
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Says reports by unnamed Indian intelligence sources used to cast shadows on Sri Lanka’s Muslims
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka has called on the Indian High Commission to clarify New Delhi’s position on the existence of Islamic terror groups in Sri Lanka, saying the claims were being used to cast a shadow on the Muslim community in the island.
In a letter to Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha, Muslim Council President M.N. Ameen notes that the Muslim community in Sri Lanka continues to be bashed by mainstream and social media as being party to terrorist groups that target India.
“This is a major cause for concern among the Muslim community as the media reports attribute the source to various unnamed Indian Government intelligence officials,” the letter to the Indian Envoy said.
The Council said that unfortunate incidents like the arrest of an individual of Islamic faith in Chennai on charges of espionage has been made use of by Buddhist extremists and some political elements with vested interests to cast a shadow on the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.
Such exposes were being used to justify their hate campaign against the Muslim community. “Such incidents contribute to the hate campaign against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka, which has fuelled violence towards Muslims in the country, as seen recently in the South of Sri Lanka, claiming the lives of three, displacing thousands and causing damage to property and livelihood amounting to hundreds of millions of rupees,” the letter noted.
“Islamaphobia is reaching crisis proportions,” the Muslim Council said.
“We kindly urge Your Excellency to immediately clarify your Government’s position on this to avert confusion and conflict in Sri Lanka which does not contribute to reconciliation, peace and stability in the country,” the letter said. (DB)
