Rauff Hakeem Must Apologise for His Religious Bigotry
Posted on August 9th, 2012
Najmudeen Mohamed
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is almost incredible to think that Mr. Rauff Hakeem is Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice. Here is a man who is supposed to represent the epitome of fairness and an advocate of peace and harmony, and yet the words that emanate from his mouth bear all the hallmarks of hatred andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ill will. Other right thinking Sri Lankan Muslims – notably MinisterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Faiszer Musthapha -ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have alreadyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ publiclyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ taken Mr Hakeem to task over his blatant attack on religious harmony in the country. Mr Hakeem’s accusation that all Buddhist monks are terrorists is no different to the bigoted portrayal in the western media of all Muslims as terrorists that are hell bent on destroying the world.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
What is even more appalling is that Mr Hakeem appears to be playing the religious card to gain votes at the eastern provincial council elections which are to be held soon. In doing so, Mr Hakeem is placing religious and ethnic harmony on the tip of a sharp blade. Sri Lankans are all too aware of how politicians in the past have used the ethnic card to cause mayhem in the country, and it is extremely disturbing to see this taking place after the end of the war, and that too at the hands of a government minister who is supposed to be responsible and a representative of the Muslim community.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is not surprising,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ however, is the way that Mr Hakeem has behaved over the years in Sri Lanka’s political landscape. Jumping from party to party and chasing power, the good man has shown very little integrity in his behaviour and has certainlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ deviatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from the teachings of Islam that he proclaims to follow. Islam promotes peace and harmony while Mr Hakeem seems to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ promotingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ division and hatred. Muslims all over the world are fighting against being stereotyped, yet Mr Hakeem has no problem stereotyping fellow Sri Lankans. His callous words cannot and must not be construed as being representative of the Sri Lankan Muslim community.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We can only hope that Mr Rauff Hakeem will see the error of his ways andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ apologizeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the country for his crude attempt at using the religious card to divide Sri Lankans and win votes by fostering hatred. It would certainly be the Islamic thing to do. But unfortunately, Mr Hakeem’s very un-Islamic behaviour so far leaves very little hope in this regard. What we as Sri Lankans can do is stand against the sort of extremism and bigotry that Mr Hakeem seems to be promoting. Such men must understand that they have no place in Sri Lankan society and they ought to be be cast out of our political space until they mend their ways.
August 9th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
“Mr Hakeem’s accusation that all Buddhist monks are terrorists is no different to the bigoted portrayal in the western media of all Muslims as terrorists that are hell bent on destroying the world. ”
This PIG must be turned to PORK.
The foolish Rajapaksha govt keeps him as Minister of Justice!
No wonder justice has gone to dogs.
We have a new Samabandan. Unless we get rid of this dirt, we have a double threat.
August 9th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Anyway no point blaming a pig for his piggy work. What else can it do?
Blame the
August 9th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Anyway no point blaming a pig for its piggy work. What else can it do?
Blame the OWNER OF THE PIG STY – THE GOVT – for keeping murderers, rapists, racists, looters, thugs, etc. etc. as ministers.
This govt falls to new lows as we go along.
Patriots sacrificed their everything and now who is having fun.
August 9th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
NAJMUDEEN !!! I salute you for exposing this Porky Hypocrite, to say that all Buddhist Priests are terrorists.
THE MAHANAYAKES MUST REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT, TO MAKE HIM APOLOGISE FOR HIS ILL CONCEIVED THOUGHT, AND THEN REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT TO ALSO ASK HIM TO RESIGN HIS POSITION AS MINISTER. THIS IS A PREDOMINANTLY BUDDHIST COUNTRY, AND HE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO TASK.
WE DO NOT NEED RABBLE ROUSING MINISTERS, PERIOD.
August 9th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
We should be grateful to Najmudeen Mohamed and other sensible Muslims for calling a spade a spade.
This is what lacks in the Tamil community. Anything done to placate Tamils is considered good by the Tamil community no matter how uncivilised it is.
Unfortunately there is a parallel between what Hakeem says now and what Chelvanayagam said in 1976.
Nevertherless I still think a Muslim Chief Minister for the East is the way to go as most Muslims are not Jihadists like Hakeem. Had the government selected a Muslim Chief Ministerial candidate instead of a Tamil Chief Ministerial candidate, this could have been avoided. In that case Muslims would rally around that candidate instead of relying on SLMC.
Tamils and Muslims in the north and the east vote for the most racist of all political parties. This is an unfortunate genetically ingrained thinking pattern of Indians and people of recent Indian origin which includes all Tamils and Muslims (excluding Malays) because of enclave mentality in India. This trend must be stopped now.
TNA replaced TULF because the former is more racist that the latter. ITAK replaced ACTC for the same reason.
Now SLMC is evolving into a Jihadist terrorist group which must be stopped soon by allowing Muslims in the East a better choice from within the UPFA and UNP.
If both UPFA and UNP deny Muslims in the East a Muslim Chief Minister, the steady radicalisation of SLMC will continue. All racist parties should be banned.
August 9th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Muslim politicians will be humiliated one by one. Already Rishad badiudin and now Rauf Hakim. No wonder it is. It is destined for them. These Muslim politicians – their aim is only to fill their pockets.
August 9th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
We know very well the ” ISLAMIC JIHAD” is being trained and arranged for an onslaught on Sinhelaya soon. There is evidence with us. Muslims please go back to where you came from! This is not your land.
August 10th, 2012 at 12:09 am
Sri Lankan Minister of Justice tells. He is not an ordinary person in the cabinet. Why cannot President take action against him?
August 10th, 2012 at 12:52 am
This gay is justic minister,did he pass gread 7,
August 10th, 2012 at 2:52 am
Mr Hakeem’s accusation that all Buddhist monks are terrorists !
This Our Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice’s comment !not odinary Muslim person’s comments !
My Chinhala brother ,Please think, think again !!! We have lost 200,000 lifes !!! We do not want another Nanthikadal in our Holy land of Bhuddha !!!
This gay is justic minister,did he pass gread 7,- Yes got law college degire (lawyer) & good in specking all three language as well !very patient person !!
He know what is talking about ! some think is happing in our mother lanka ???? no good !
August 10th, 2012 at 5:15 am
BREAKING NEWS.
India has banned the use of the word ELAM!!
SL should do same.
August 10th, 2012 at 6:01 am
Lorenzo
please do not break the new !
News !
If Karunanithi want support for his TESO from Centre he need to drop E , thats all !!!
This is all Indian gimic!!!
Anyway you explined Eelam is not blongest to Tamil as Elam from (E)Hela(M)!
August 10th, 2012 at 11:00 am
Andy:
Lorenzo is neither Tamil nor Sinhala. He is trying to show that he is a Sinhala. He thinks(like some other Sinhalese) Tamil bashing is a tool.
Further India did not banned the word Eelam.
Further we now read news about the buddhist monks who are involved in organized crimes. Many involved in SEX crimes against minors. Are Buddha Rakitas and Somaramas in making?
August 10th, 2012 at 11:19 am
It is heartening to hear that Minister Rauff Hakkim has given an unconditional apology to all buddhists for his indiscretion. However, this incident creates a doubt in my mind whether he is suitable to hold the portfolio Minisiter of Justice.
As for MS Mudali’s comments that “Buddhist monks are involved in organised crimes”, it is similar to Rauff Hakkim’s comments and should be thrown back to Mudali to take it with him. Any Tom, Dick or Harry could put on a yellow robe and get the media to get photos of them commiting all sort of vulgar and violent acts, just to discredit the buddhist clergy. This is a well known weapon used by enemies of buddhism. Is Mudali one of these ememies? I hope not!. As for sex crimes, yes this is possible amongstthe clergy and laymen, irrespective of religion, but unfortunately it has existed within the catholic church for a very long time and ignored by the hierarchy. But this is the fault of the weak individuals and not the respective religions.
August 10th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Hakeem has tendered an unconditional apology. He should be commended for that. In fairness, a number of government ministers who engaged in criminal acts never apologised for their crimes.
We should bury this incident and move on.
We have enough enemies (Tamil nationalists, Indian colonialists and western colonialists) and we need no more.
As the government follows Indian imposed Tamil racism including appointing a Tamil Chief Minister to Muslim majority eastern province and fails to ban racist political parties, these incidents will continue.
August 13th, 2012 at 1:56 am
Rohana,
Like Perumal he declared 2 Islamic states in Trincomalee and Ampara in 2001 when he lost his ministry under CBK.
Obviously MR today doesn’t have the spine of CBK in 2001.
Yes he is a racist and all that you say is true. But we have to manage these “seasonal racists” in national politics for the time being.