Dilrook Kannangara

Unfortunately, almost all Muslim communities in the world are suffering physical harm for various reasons. Yet there is an oasis for Muslims in Sri Lanka. The land where the first man, Prophet Adam descended, and descended well, according to local Muslims’ beliefs, has nurtured Muslims and awarded them with peace and prosperity when the rest of the world turned hostile.

What happens in the Middle East for the past 70 years is sad. Never-ending wars have plagued the middle east, and their wars will not end anytime soon. Palestine, Yemen, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, etc. are taking very heavy economic and human losses. At least 5 million Muslims would have been killed in this region for the past 70 years of war. Other forms of violence against Muslims are also at horror levels.

Algeria to Libya and North Africa is another sob story of extreme violence killing over a million Muslims since WW2. Other parts of Africa are no better with extreme violence and counter violence resulting in the deaths of millions of Muslims.

Afghanistan has a legacy of millions of dead in repeated wars.

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is another sorry story. Last 80 years saw the killing of over 3 million Muslims in these countries due to internal strife, terrorism and independence movements. Continuing discrimination against and lynching of Muslims to death in India is commonplace. Similar happenings take place in China and Myanmar.

A large number of Muslims have made their way to developed countries. However, they are denied Muslim laws, Sharia law, multiple marriages and religious practice. They face daily backlash from locals in these countries.

Indonesia, Malaysia and a few central Asian countries with a large Muslim population have so far avoided major military catastrophes, however, plans are underway in western capitals to turn these too into killing fields.

In addition, Indonesia is facing severe natural disasters too frequently. Sitting on what is called ‘the ring of fire’, it is battered by all forms of natural disasters with tens of thousands of casualties. Maldives, though peaceful and prosperous, has its days numbered due to rising sea levels.

In wide contrast Muslims in Sri Lanka thrive with no physical threats whatsoever and good business. Muslims in Sri Lanka must be thankful for their good luck in Sri Lanka. Bringing extremist dogma from warzones into the blessed island will surely end the streak of good luck. Let those dogmatic beliefs perish in the middle east; it is no concern for the islanders; keep Sri Lanka peaceful for all.