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by Prabath Dharmadasa
A
few weeks ago there was an article in the Island newspaper about the
"Muslim problem." After reading it I felt that it was a storm in a
teacup. I don't think our country has a "Muslim problem" at all.
In fact, to the contrary if more Sri Lankans followed the
example set by the Muslim community perhaps we would be a more peaceful
country. Many Muslims are trilingual, well integrated with the Sinhalese and
Southern Sri Lanka just would not be the same without them.
The
truth is, we never had a "Muslim problem" in Sri Lanka.
This
is a mindset that has entered our country from the west through its media
that seeks to demonise Islam and the Muslims.
Can
we really judge more than one billion Muslims by the actions of a few?
Terrorists did indeed attack America and the United Kingdom, but why exactly
should Muslims in Sri Lanka reap the whirlwind?
When
those in Europe were intolerant to anything that they saw as threatening
their Judeo-Christian homogeneity,
in
Sri Lanka Muslims were living side by side with the Buddhist majority and
fighting together against foreign invaders.
The
Sinhalese Buddhist kings never persecuted them, or their religion. On the
contrary Muslims were free to practice their faith as they wished. The
populace did not regard the Muslims as some strange "other" to be
viewed with suspicion but equal citizens who were part and parcel of the
kingdom.
That
is why there were so many intermarriages and Muslims in Kandy have a
"ge" name as well. Infact, Muslims were regarded as fine soldiers
and were even brought to the island to serve the kings.
Today
people from the west lecture us about "diversity" but we have a
long tradition of that.
In
this country it is not a crime to wear the hijab like it is in France or
Turkey. It is fine to have Islamic schools and nationwide Islamic holidays.
Madrasahs are not treated as terrorist indoctrination camps. Mosques are not
banned because "they don't fit in with the local architecture."
It
is not okay to create cartoons mocking a religious figure held sacred by a large
section of humanity.
The
truth is, those in Europe are finally coming to grips with true diversity -
with the religious, cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity that we in Sri
Lanka are quite familiar with.
Let
us not take the path of the west when it comes to our Muslim community. We
may be a poor country but in this respect I believe we truly are much more
progressive than the so-called secular west.
There
may be some fundamentalists (who exist in all
religions) among the Sri Lankan Muslim community,
but
they have never posed a threat because the vast majority of Muslims do not
subscribe to their views. We should have faith in the Muslim community's
ability to self regulate any extremism.
Muslims
may be persecuted in other countries, but we should never let that happen in
Sri Lanka. If we put into practice what the Buddha taught we have nothing to
fear for "hatred never ceases through hatred in this world; through love
alone does it cease."
--
The
moment you have hatred,even with good reason,that hatred will hurt you before
it hurts anyone else.- Swami Satprakashananda.
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