Defence authorities warned about NTJ in 2012: Rizwi

All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) head Mufthi Mohammed Rizwi who testified before the select committee looking into the Easter Sunday attacks yesterday said he had warned the defence authorities on the National Thawheed Jama'ath(NTJ) in November 2012.

He also said he handed over some photographs to former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando in January 2019. “We were preaching real Islam which was taught by Prophet Muhammed. We produced books on Islam. We also produced books on clothing. However, Zahran did not approve the activities of ACJU and one of his followers named Adhil called me a Kafir which means a non-believer. He said I have nothing to do with Islam. They even produced foraged photographs of mine. I got these photographs from social media and gave them to Mr. Fernando,” Mufthi Rizwi said.

“ I was one of the world’s first Muslim clergymen to speak against ISIS. It was my duty to safeguard our motherland. Also Islam has nothing to do with ISIS. Misunderstanding talks were given. My speech over the radio was broadcast on July 7, 2014. It was about Aluthgama attacks and ISIS. ISIS entered Sri Lanka after the Aluthgama riots. There were hate speech and anti Halal elements. We then realized that things were going in the wrong directions. We therefore came up with several books on Islamic Principals including the dress code,” he said.

Mufthi Rizwi added that one cannot hate a person who hates him. “Therefore I do not hate the monks who speak against Islam and Muslims. I want to have a dialogue with them,” he said.

Also Mufti said ACJU started issuing halal certificates from 2002. “Certain parts of pork were used to produce jelly and animal blood was used to produce certain food. Therefore we have to issue Halal certificate. Halal certification did not originate in the Middle East or from any gulf country. It came from countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Further, he said ACJU issued a statement denouncing ISIS after Nilam the first Sri Lankan who joined the organization died.(Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)

Video by RM