What happened was not a Sinhalese - Muslim clash ... A 'Muslimphobia' attack planned on the basis of competition, jealousy -- Rauf Hakeem

What happened was not a Sinhalese - Muslim clash ...

 A 'Muslimphobia' attack planned on the basis of competition, jealousy -- Rauf Hakeem

Minister and President's Counsel Rauf Hakeem joined in a discussion with India's 'The Hindu' newspaper published today (14) and has made an analysis on the situation that flared up in Sri Lanka.

In the interview concerned he has said that the conflictory situation that emerged in Amparai and

Kandy districts was not a Sinhalese - Muslim clash as such and it  should be identified as an attack launched targetting the Muslim community. The Muslim community though was a minority in Sri Lanka were getting along peacefully with each other and that incidents where competition and jealousy had begun to surface in 2012 in Sri Lanka ,thus incidents developing a 'Muslimphobia' mentality had begun to crop up and in the end this unfortunate state of affairs went as far as upto this ill-fated level. In this context he had criticised the irresponsibility of the police and weak behaviour of the government.

In the above connection he has this to say: "The minority of Muslims in the island is only 10%. This issue raised its head after the civil war of 2009 which finally came to a close. These things come into being within the global framework of 'Islamicphobia'. From 2012 anti-Muslim attacks began to escalate. On the one hand, this is a national statement about an international issue. On the other hand it could be identified as 'Muslimphobia' or else as an Islamicphobia. This particular issue has become stabilised for having been on the lookout for another rival after the war-victory and because of actions that occured in unleashing certain dormant outstanding demonstrative powers in a  most well-planned out system purposely. According to this strategy steps were taken to search for a medium of action to attack a Muslim and to create problems by targetting their economy and bread and butter. Political patronage was most readily forthcoming for these efforts of theirs. After certain extremist groups (Sinhalese - Buddhists) starting the Hijab issue, protests flared up on the Halal (authorization). In this way the "enemy's mentality" was generated.

The Halal issue was in fact utilised for the purpose of instilling a fright in the minds of Muslims who were not Muslims. There was no problem in earlier times in the case of consumption matters related to the Muslims, the Halal methodology or  meals taken before Muslim meals. It is clear that this phobia has come into being because of jealousy, business competition and various other reasons. Subsequently, these people brought up issues related to other styles of living of the Muslim community. Particularly, they pointed out that females dressed in the Hijab was alien to Sri Lanka culture. Incidents of Aluthgama and Beruwala of 2014 was one which was of a violent nature, among others incidents. It is apparent that the two incidents of Amparai and Kandy are ones that were most carefully planned out. 

These incidents which happened after the United Opposition which is backed by Mahinda Rajapaksa and which came in with an astounding victory was something which dawned with some political background. The possibility of political motivation of any sort cannot be totally wiped out in an instance of this nature in Sri Lanka. This is endemic to our culture. Whatever political party we belong to, extremist groups should refrain from giving encouragement or political benefits and gains. The recent incident is not a Sinhalese - Muslim conflict as such. It was a clear-cut attack on the Muslim community. It is sad that it keeps on being repeated. The government failing to protect the Muslims is a serious issue.

As a consequence of the brutal neglect, this violence extended. They had not taken steps to at least rescue the Muslim people. Protection of the minority of Muslims in this land was neglected in an ugly way. As a result of it, the culture where punishment is not meted out which existed during the Rajapaksa regime has now once again begun to be stabilized. This indeed is a grave issue".