Sri Lankan Monks Blame Police For Rising Attacks on Muslims, Christians

Date:

Sri-Lankan-Monks-Blame-Police-For-Rising-Attacks-on-Muslims,-ChristiansCOLOMBO, Jan 29 — Sri Lanka’s Buddhist hierarchy and other religious leaders accused police Tuesday of failing to prosecute those behind a recent wave of attacks on Christians and Muslims, reported AFP.

A multi-religious group led by Buddhist monks said the country had failed to grasp the threat posed by hate speech and attacks because local media reports had not been “impartial or factual.”

“There is at present a public perception that such attacks are taking place due to failure of law enforcement authorities to take necessary action,” said the Forum for Inter-Faith Dialogue (FIFD).

“If unchecked, these alarming trends would cause immeasurable damage and drawback to the country.”

FIFD, which is backed by the highest levels of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim clergy and is an initiative of former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, said it was asking for full implementation of the law.

The call came after a string of attacks against churches and mosques, some of them led by young Buddhist monks.

Videos shared on YouTube have shown Buddhist monks throwing stones and smashing a Christian prayer center in southern Sri Lanka earlier this month while police looked on.

Monks were also caught on video camera last year smashing Muslim-owned businesses just outside the capital.

Mobs led by Buddhist monks had also attacked mosques and forced the closure of at least one Islamic prayer center in the capital in August, fueling international concern for religious freedom in the majority Buddhist nation.

theclarionindia
theclarionindiahttps://clarionindia.net
Clarion India - News, Views and Insights about Indian Muslims, Dalits, Minorities, Women and Other Marginalised and Dispossessed Communities.

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

‘Sharbat Jihad’: Delhi HC Closes Suit on Ramdev’s Assurance Not to Repeat Slur

The term ‘Sharbat Jihad’ was coined by Ramdev while...

India-Pakistan Tensions Trigger Selloff in Stock Markets, Sensex Falls 880 Points

MUMBAI -- Indian equity markets witnessed a sharp decline...

‘War Not a Solution:’ Muslim Board Calls for Indo-Pak Dialogue to Resolve Issues

There is absolutely no place for terrorism in Islamic...

A Letter from the Heart to All the Rulers of the World

A heartfelt salutation, a painful cry, and a plea...