Islamophobia and attacks on Muslims in Sri Lanka Incident Map During the past year, there has been an communities. The President’s statement problems too. However the Muslim Islamophobia unprecedented level of violent attacks, at this meeting was only publicised in community is currently facing a demonstrations and hate speech the English language and not in the concerted campaign against them. targeting Sri Lanka’s eight per cent Sinhalese language media, thereby not In addition to attacks on places of and attacks Muslim population. Mainly perpetrated reaching a large number of supporters religious worship there are calls to by Buddhist fundamentalist groups, the of the Bodu Bala Sena. In his speech boycott Muslim shops and on Muslims events have left the country’s second on Independence Day, 4 February 2013, establishments, all of which is largest minority community – the there was again a call to stop inciting increasing tensions, particularly in areas Muslims – feeling afraid and vulnerable. racial hatred. While these initiatives where Muslims and Sinhalese live close on the rise in The response from the Government of must be welcomed, they are far from to each other. The incidents against Sri Lanka (GoSL) has been limited. adequate considering the level of Muslims are widespread across the Sri Lanka Police inaction in some cases has violence and hatred being unleashed country and have picked up enabled violence to take place and on Muslims at present. momentum during the last months. there have been few arrests. Here are some of the major events that MRG has received reports of other have taken place since April 2012. The ‘Bodu Bala Sena’ or ‘Buddhist religious communities facing serious power force’ is the main group behind the targeting of Muslims. Appeals by Muslim civil society to the GoSL to take In addition to the protests and attacks, there has been a spate of online hate action against this group have met with campaigns targeting Muslims. These campaigns have run on social networking little positive response. On 27 January sites and also appear as responses to comments and news on other websites. 2013, President Mahinda Rajapaksha The campaigns use degrading and threatening language about Muslims and on reportedly met monks and members of some occasions insult Islamic beliefs and texts. There is also currently a major the Bodu Bala Sena and asked them to campaign against the system of issuing halal certificates, which at present is done by a national level Muslim religious body. avoid conflicts with other religious Recommendations places of religious worship. recommendations on freedom of To the Government Prosecute those involved in the religion and minority rights. To UN Human Rights of Sri Lanka attacks in accordance with Sri Council (HRC) Lankan law. ● Take action to promote the religious freedom of all communities in member states ● Take immediate action to protect all ● Take immediate action to enforce Sri accordance with international religious minority communities from Lankan law with regard to the human rights standards. ● Ensure a strong UN HRC resolution violent attacks, threats of violence activities of fundamentalist groups on Sri Lanka that establishes an as well as incitement to religious that engage in attacks on places of ● Respond to communications made international, independent and hatred. Community property, religious worship in line with by the UN Special Rapporteur on impartial mechanism to investigate including places of religious international human rights norms. Freedom of Religion or Belief and violations of international human property, must be protected and the Independent Expert on Minority rights and humanitarian norms access ensured. This protection ● Take immediate action to draft Issues and invite them to visit and during the recent armed conflict in responsibility extends to ensuring legislation regarding the prevention of report on Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka as well as current the safety and well-being of religious intolerance and hate speech. violations, including with regard to potentially vulnerable groups within The drafting process must include full ● Finally, the President should make a religious freedom and minority minority communities, including consultation with minority community public statement, in all national rights. women, children, the elderly and representatives in relevant languages. languages, condemning acts of persons with disabilities. violence and incitement to religious ● Use their bilateral communications ● Take immediate action to implement hatred against Muslims and all other with the GoSL to raise their concern ● Take immediate action to investigate Lessons Learned & Reconciliation communities and assure minorities about the on-going attacks on impartially all attacks against all Commission (LLRC) that their rights will be protected. Muslims and call for immediate measures to be taken to ensure the protection of Muslim and all other Minority Rights Group International 54 Commercial Street, London E1 6LT, United Kingdom minority communities. Tel +44 (0)20 7422 4200 Fax +44 (0)20 7422 4201 Email [email protected] Website www.minorityrights.org www.twitter.com/minorityrights www.facebook.com/minorityrights Visit the Minority Voices Newsroom for stories from minorities and indigenous peoples around the world www.minorityvoices.org Islamophobia and attacks on Muslims in Sri Lanka: Incident Map Arimalam Arantangi 26 October 2012 INDIA An unidentified group set fire to and burnt down a mosque in Malwathu Oya, Anuradhapura, in north central Sri Lanka. The mosque was built in 28 May 2012 the year 2000 and over 30 families Muslims were stopped from resided within its vicinity. Following worshiping at a mosque in Point Pedro the incidents, local Muslims began KurunegalaTiruvadanai , north central Sri Lanka by using a home for their group prayers. Buddhist clergy and local politicians in Tondi Buddhist monks continue to conduct the area. According to the local Jaffna protests, calling for the closure of the Muslim community, they were invited Chavakachcheri new religious space and for the to an event by Buddhist clergy in a removal of Muslims from the area. nearby temple, which they attended. 20 April 2012 At the event, they were questioned about the origins of the mosque and A group of up to 2,000 Sinhala its legality. The Muslim representatives Killinochchi Buddhists, including members of the responded that it was registered clergy, protested outside and attacked a mosque in Dambulla, under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Ramesvaram north central Sri Lanka. The Muslim communityPamban members said Mullaittivu they were subsequently threatened protesters, carrying Buddhist flags, shouted slogans and demonstrated and forced to sign a document which Mallavi stated that they would not use the outside the mosque, disrupting premises for religious purposes. The traditional Friday afternoon prayers. mosque remains unused. 24 January 2013 Despite police presence, the Mannar protesters subsequently broke into Demonstrators conducted an anti- 24 July 2012 the premises of the mosque and Muslim rally in the western town of A group of 150 protesters led by a Madu caused some damage to property. Kulliyapitiya, calling for a boycott of The protesters claimed the mosque Buddhist monk entered a mosque in Muslim products and establishments. Varikuttiuruwa Vavuniya Kurunegala, north central Sri Lanka, had been built on a Buddhist sacred The protesters also distributed site; Muslims in the area say the and threatened worshipers. Police printed material critical of Islam. intervened and removed the mosque has been there for over half a century. Subsequent to the protesters. Trincomalee attacks, the GoSL ordered the relocation of the mosque. 19January 2013 28 August 2012 Over a hundred Buddhists protested Kannimaduwa A public campaign against Muslims Kantalai in Maharagama, north of the capital Anuradhapura Padikaramduwa was launched in the north central Colombo. The demonstrators town of Dambulla calling on people marched to a Muslim-owned shopping Malwathu Oya to boycott Muslim shops and not sell complex ‘No Limit’, demanding that it Kandulla Block land to Muslims, as well as claiming be shut down. ‘No Limit’ is one of Sri Dangollegama that the Muslim population is Lanka’s biggest retail chains. Kekirawa expected to grow to 20-30 per cent Puttalan Hingurakgoda of the total by the year 2021. Printed Polonnaruwa material making these points were 31 July 2012 widely distributed across the town. A group of Buddhist monks Dambulla disturbed Muslims engaged in prayer at a mosque in Rajagiriya, which Batticaloa Kattankudi borders the capital Colombo. The monks maintained surveillance of SRI LANKA the mosque for a few days following Chilaw 14 October 2012 this incident. In August, police gave Thousands of demonstrators in the notice for the mosque to be closed Matale capital city Colombo, chanting anti- down until proper registration Kulliyapitiya Kurunegaia Muslim rhetoric, protested against an documentation was provided. Muslim attack on Buddhists in Bangladesh. activists say, after providing these The protesters pelted stones at the documents to the police, they have Warakapola Kegalla Kandy Bangladeshi embassy in Colombo. enabled community members to use Negombo They were protesting the destruction the mosque. Gampola of 22 temples and homes of minority Gampaha Buddhists in the Upazila and Nawalapitiya Ja-Ela Chittagong divisions of