Blind faith and going astray Reflecting on the Easter Sunday carnage

Islam scholars have affirmed that ‘Terror groups have nothing to do with Islam and Islam has nothing to do with terror groups’ (AFP) 

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has only reacted and not responded to the developing unrest in the country by appointing a new Defence Secretary, Chief Justice, an Acting IGP and banning face coverings used by its citizens when they step out on the streets. Why? Because people are still not happy with the security arrangements made for them after they returned to work on Monday (April 29) after remaining at home one full week. 

Psychologists will say that reacting is for kids and that adults are better geared to make a mature response when circumstances demand them to act wisely or provide an answer to a problem.  Former Army Commander and now Field Marshall and State Minister Sarath Fonseka said on television the other day that the regime is not even in the ‘line of thinking’ with regard to combatting the threats from these extremists elements is concerned. 

• Any other right thinking person would see his or her eyes opening when reasoning is encouraged
• This extremism with religion is not only associated with those practising Islam
• Chandrika Kumaratunga, influential as she is, has called for the banning of Madarasa Islamic Schools

What’s of concern is that so many people in authoritative positions are making various claims in their attempts to analyse the chaotic situation in the country. For example the All Ceylon Jammiyathul Ulama (ACJU) President Rizwi Mufti has said that the Easter Sunday attacks were carried out by Mohammed Zahran who leads the National Thawheed Thamath (NTJ). But Brigadier Chula Koddithuwakku, the head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, has said that Zahran left the NTJ and formed another extremist group with 130 others. 

With these various statements in the background it’s essential that we find out who is behind these attacks and what their true motives are. 

From what we’ve read in the newspapers and seen on television and after observing the destruction caused by the terror group linked to the attacks it’s evident that their members have had vengeance in mind. There is belief in them that if they die in the cause of eliminating a member of the society who is not a practitioner of of Islam they are promised bliss in heaven. 

Distorted versions 

Islamic State of Iraq and Lavant’s (ISIL) chief Bakr al-Baghdadi referred to bombings in Sri Lanka as ‘vengeance for their brothers in Baghouz’. The question now arises as to why take revenge on a community whose members a rebel must kill to be assured of a place in heaven? If every Christian they eliminate gives them merit points to enter heaven, these rebels should then worship the souls of those whom they put to death. 

If such killings are sacred then the churches they step into must also be sacred and also those who pray inside them; because the church is the place where they carry out killings, commit suicide later and eventually go to heaven. Any other right thinking person would see his or her eyes opening when reasoning is encouraged. 

But unfortunately these rebel suicide bombers seem to be following their faith quite blindly. The worst case scenario could be that these suicide bombers are insane or bordering on insanity. For the record this extremism with religion is not only associated with those practising Islam, there are records of others following different faiths who have followed distorted versions of their religions and ruined their lives. 

Former president and Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa has affirmed that this is the time for religious reconciliation. He sees this as more important than communal reconciliation. But have we failed to understand that these rebel bombings are in no way associated with the Muslim culture nor the practice of the Islam faith? Take for an example the Muslim-Sinhala Buddhist riots in 1915 which took place solely due to a dispute regarding a Buddhist pageant. 

The question now arises as to why take revenge on a community whose members a rebel must kill to be assured of a place in heaven? If every Christian they eliminate gives them merit points to enter heaven, these rebels should then worship the souls of those whom they put to death

The Muslim community had objected to those in the pageant playing music and going past its mosque. Even the Supreme Court judgment given regarding the issue had encouraged Indian Moors to prevent Buddhist pageants from passing by Muslim mosques. 

But the Buddhist pageant did enter the area where the mosques were which resulted in the riots which lasted from May 28 to August 8. As many as 116 people died in the riots. 

This riot was a clash of both cultures and religion because the Muslims didn’t wish to see their prayer sessions being disturbed by the loud music produced by the artistes performing at the pageant. Clashes of this nature were considered as human nature back then with the authorities being able to make or force everybody to return to their peaceful lives. 

But what happened in Colombo, Negombo and Baticaloa is beyond religious reasoning. ACJU President Mufti said that ‘Terror groups have nothing to do with Islam and Islam has nothing to do with terror groups’. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that ‘99.9% of Muslims in the Sri Lankan community love peace’. 

Madarasa Islamic Schools

What’s of concern is that issues are being interpreted in a distorted manner even by those in power or exercise authority. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, influential as she is, has called for the banning of Madarasa Islamic Schools, but actually these schools have a long history and have served the society by providing the facility of a Sunday School to the Muslim community. 

When palming blame from either side we need to find the motive behind the attack and see whether Sri Lanka would be the target again in the future attacks coordinated by these extremist groups. Now there is information about possible attacks on Buddhist temples. This is serious given the fact that the Sri Lankan Buddhists jealously guard their territories and can get violent if provoked unnecessarily. 

There were calls by groups of Buddhist monks to remove the face coverings worn by females who are Muslims and also a move by the GoSL to ban the burka. 
The GoSL must broaden the scope of the old definition in the law which allows the arrest of those aiding terrorism. The GoSL must also not leave room now for people to take the law into their hands at this difficult juncture.