Easter Sunday carnage

Friday, 3 December 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Daily Mirror newspaper recently reported that Professor Rohan Gunaratna had reiterated, “The next phase of action should be for Muslim leaders to regulate religious space and ensure Salafi Wahabism does not re-emerge in Sri Lanka.” Whilst we appreciate his erudite scholarship, it is with much regret and sense of concern that we reiterate that there is not a single organisation including the ACJU, which is capable of providing the leadership and taking the initiative in this regard.

We suggest that a person such as Minister Ali Sabry who in consultation with the leading organisations in Sri Lanka should initiate the move to appoint a committee of Islamic scholars and leading Muslim professionals to form an advisory committee with the remit to:

1.Study and examine all Islamic textbooks in schools and universities which are currently used to impart Islamic religious knowledge.

2.Study and examine syllabuses of especially Salafi-based madrasas and those of universities which run courses on Islamic studies.

3.Recommend books and syllabuses to be adopted in schools and universities.

4.Identify institutions that preach and practice and promote Salafi Wahabism and recommend the closure of such institutions.

– M.F. Amjadeen