By Latheef Farook –
Latheef Farook
The explosive controversy over Muslim teachers wearing Abhaya at Shri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College at Trincomalee has all the potentials to tear apart relations between the Tamil-Muslim communities to the detriment of both.
This suspected manipulated issue needs to be sorted out peacefully in the interest of the two communities. Failure to do so means local and international forces in the island with their own evil agendas would trigger a crisis which would not serve either community.
Today’s political environment in the country is highly corrupt, commercialized, communalized and criminalized.
The wounds of the 30 year ethnic war are yet to be healed. They remain complicated and lot need to be done to bring about better understanding between the two communities. In the aftermath of the ethnic war in in May 2009 the whole country expected Rajapaksa government to learn lesson from the past racist politics, bring communities together and move the country ahead.
To the shock of everyone, instead, Rajapaksa government unleashed violence and turned the country into a living hell. To free from this mayhem people voted for President Maithripala Sirisena-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to power in the 8 January 2005 presidential elections.
However President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe miserably failed to fulfill their promises .Instead the Maithri Ranil government continue the Rajapaksa era racism- against Muslims.
Racist elements in the south implement their own agenda against Muslims while the government turn a blind eye. They would not miss a chance to divide and further destroy the already strained Tamil-Muslim relations.
Under the circumstance Tamils and Muslims in the north and east, whether one likes it or not, need to live together in their own interest.
Unlike in the past Sri Lanka today is a playground for destructive international forces. They are all here with their own agendas against Muslims to destabilize the country.
For example India’s Hindu fascists Rastriya Swayam Sevak, RSS, whose declared agenda is to wipe out Islam and Muslim from India, is in the island. Their presence is common knowledge. They have suspected to have penetrated sensitive areas such as media.
About two years ago Marawanpulavu Satchithanandan and Tamil National Alliance’s Seenithamby Yogeswaran opened a RSS office in Vavuniya to introduce the RSS-Shiv Sena agenda aimed at pitting Tamils against Muslims. Their agenda is not to promote Hinduism but to strike at Muslims.
In fact Marawanpula Satchithanandan had reported to have told the media that the RSS Vavuiniya office was started following consultation with RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Siva Sena.
Many warned of RSS presence here, its agenda against Muslims and its devastating impact in the country. However no one took any notice. Now in the wake of the controversy in Trincmalee Hindu Ladies College parliamentarian Abdullah Mahroof has accused parliamentarian Seenithamby Yogeswaran and pro LTTE elements of being behind the controversy. He had stated that he had tried to contact several Tamil politicians to settle the issue peacefully, but no one, Tamils and Muslims alike, had responded.
According to reports already an RSS agent posing as a Muslim wearing black abhaya and trying to throw meat into the college was caught. The RSS agents were also accused of posting pictures and write ups humiliating Tamil women and even Tamil culture under Muslim names to provocateur crisis between two communities.
In the midst extremist and short sighted elements in the two communities began staging demonstrating accusing each other.
The education authorities in the region should step in and sort out the issue as early as possible and as peaceful as possible before the situation gets out of control.
An impartial probe will expose the real forces behind this crisis. However in view of the racist politics in the south under the confused and collapsing political situation in the country it is highly unlikely that an independent probe will be conducted and truth will be told to the public.
On the other hand Israel, the main architect of wars against Muslim countries in the Middle East and beyond under the guise of fighting war on terrorism, are here.They have come with their own anti-Muslim agenda. It was after their presence in the island since during Rajapaksa presidency that racist elements began to emerge and turned the country into a living hell for Muslims today.
They are hand in glove with RSS in their conspiracies against Muslims not only in Sri Lanka but in the entire region.
They also use various forces to trigger crisis against Muslims in the island. For example around two years ago group of Tamils came out on demonstration in Batticalo supporting Israel with no valid reason. They know very well that such a demonstration holding Israeli flag would antagonize the Muslims .However the mercenaries who organized the march did not care for reason better known to them.
Speculations are that Israelis operate in various guises in the east and rest of the country. It was after their presence that Sinhala mindset was poisoned against Muslims causing the split between the two communities to the detriment of all in the country.
Many also believe that it was after Israeli presence here racist organizations began to emerge criticizing Islam and attacking Muslims. It was a German Jew who gifted a house for violent racist outfit BBS whose only purpose is to demonize Islam and Muslims to cripple the Muslim community.
Sinhala racists such as Bodu Bala Sena and other destructive elements are quite active. They have nothing to do with Buddhism. They are simply implementing their paymasters’ agendas against Muslims. They also remain a pampered lot under President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe government which turned out a disaster for Muslims.
This is the reason why every possible step should be taken to solve this abhaya issue as early as possible. One should not forget that across the sea in India it was only Tamilnadu which never allowed divisive and destructive RSS-BJP and VHP forces to enter and maintained communal harmony.
Spring Koha / May 1, 2018
Too many little Hitlers in our blessed land trying to show off the little power they have. In the process they create hell to those who only seek a quiet and peaceful life. The sooner we put them in their place, the better.
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Amarasiri / May 1, 2018
Latheef Farook
RE: Abhaya Issue At Trinco Hindu Ladies’ College; Conspiracy To Pit Tamils Against Muslims?
Question: Are the Muslim women and men of Sri Lanka, mean IQ 79, stupider than Muslim women and men of Saudi Arabia, mean IQ 84?
Saudi women need not wear abaya robes: Senior cleric
http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/528092/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-women-need-not-wear-abaya-robes-Senior-cleric
Riyadh — Saudi women should not have to wear the loose-fitting abaya robe, a senior cleric said.
“More than 90 percent of pious Muslim women in the Muslim world do not wear abayas,” said Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, the Kingdom’s highest religious body.
“So we should not force women to wear abayas,” he told a radio program broadcast on Friday.
Sheikh Al-Mutlaq was answering a question by a Saudi woman on the ruling for wearing “the abaya. “
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Raja / May 1, 2018
In Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern Countries Muslim women are taking off their hijab,abhaya and publicly burning them . The Muslims women are demanding more and more freedom to wear comfortable clothes and get in to a pair of jeans and go jogging etc. In Saudi Arabia women are allowed to go to foot ball matches horse racing etc etc
In Sri Lanka the Muslim women are forced and enslaved to wear traditional uncomfortable abhaya and hijab by the Muslim men and then the Muslim men frequent the hotel bars
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Mohamed Marzook UK / May 1, 2018
There is no enslavement of Muslim women in Sri Lanka at all. They are more more educated and knowledgeable on current world affairs and development. Those who chose the Abhaya or Hijab, they do it on their own choice. This is being made an issue by communal rubble rousers. The law of the land allows them to wear the Abhaya,. It is failure of the law enforcing authorities that is leaving room communal elements to create conflicts. This Govt too is failing.
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dinuka / May 1, 2018
Yeah I have seen small girls of age 4 or 5 are wearing those hijabs totally on their own choice. What a funny statement to make
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Rajash / May 1, 2018
Mohamed Marzook “The law of the land?…..it’s not law of the law and its not in the Quaran either…
what law of the land anyway?
The law of the land also allows Sinhala racist Thugs to adorn the saffron robe and attack Muslim properties! …so why do you Muslims complain?
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Rajash / May 2, 2018
Mohamed Marzook – again A Muslim Male talking for the Muslim Women….it appears that the Muslim women in Sri Lanka are denied their own voice !
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Rajash / May 1, 2018
Rajash – is the author of this comment – I may have hit the return key before completely entering my name in full
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Bandara / May 2, 2018
Raja
It is about time they take their knickers also off.
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Rajash / May 3, 2018
Bandara….Trust me …they do ….willingly in private….all that pent up sexual frustration oozes out and they are so relieved and thankful
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Fathima / May 1, 2018
Soon they will tell Muslim girls to worship Lingam!
This is unacceptable. Dress is personal choice. Leave it to the person wearing it.
Trincomalee is a Muslim majority district. There is no reason why Muslims cannot have it their way in Trinco.
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soma / May 1, 2018
“Soon they will tell Muslim girls to worship Lingam!”
I thought they are already doing it.
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kabaragoya / May 1, 2018
Four of them worship one Lingam.
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Gujaral / May 2, 2018
Often one of the four devotees of this lingam takes on worshipping another on the sly
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Kabaragoya / May 2, 2018
Yeah, Muslim women are kept fully covered so that other Lingams do not trespass.
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Real Revolutionist / May 1, 2018
Fathima
Though don’t utter in public all the healthy people worship lingam.
Muslim men are famous for having more than one to worship, but how unreasonable, what an injustice Fathimas like you have to share one to worship.
We take pity on you.
But if you want to enjoy equal rights to enjoy more than one, start the struggle.
We are here to help you.
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Rajash / May 1, 2018
Trincomalee is a Muslim majority district – soon you will claim Sri Lanka is Muslim Majority
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Ayathuray Rajasingam / May 2, 2018
Fathima,
Do you know the significance of Shiva Lingam. It is a column of fire without beginning and without end. Moreover, it is a Islamic country which have depicted Lord Ganesha in their currency and give prominence to it. None of the other Islamic countries could stop it. Even India did not have Lord Ganesha depicted in its currency. Moreover it is Hinduism which gave a prompt answer regarding the creation of the Universe. This does not mean I am ridiculing Islam..
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Pandi Kutti / May 2, 2018
You worship at the Kabbah in Mecca. Ignorant woman go and read what the Kabbah really is and its origin
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / May 2, 2018
No it is not . you are the now the largest community there as many Tamils have been chased out of the district by Sinhalese settlers and Muslim home guards and are languishing in refugee camps in India. Trincomalee or Thirumalai( the sacred hill) is an ancient Tamil Saivite city that was ruled by the Tamils . It is the home of one of the prehistoric Saivite Iswarams. Thirukoneswaram of Ramayana fame. Everything about the district is Tamil and Saivite . The history and place names. All the ancient ruins here is Tamil Hindu or Tamil Buddhist. It was part of the Tamil Jaffna kingdom. Proper eastern province only started south of the Maheveli river . North of it was the Tamil Jaffna kingdom. The Eelam Tamils from Trincomalee. just like the Jaffna and other northern Tamils come under the Thesavalamai law , as they were part of the Jaffna kingdom. Other than a few border villages Sinhalese only arrived here in the 1950s and most of them from the late 1970s onwards. The Muslims arrived here only a few centuries ago as refugees like in the rest of the eastern province. Even upto the late 1970s Trincomalee district used to elect three MPS . Two Tamil and one Muslim . Now due to large scale ethnic cleansing of Tamils from this district and settlement of thousands of Sinhalese from the south and Muslims deliberately breeding like rats . The Tamil population in the district has reduced drastically , however if the refugees from India return it will change very much in favour of the Tamils. The Muslims though now the largest community in the district 40% compared to the Tamils 32% % and Sinhalese the rest are not the outright majority. This was largely achieved by 1) Large scale ethnic cleansing of Tamils 2) Large scale Sinhalese settlement 3) High birth rate amongst the Muslims . There is no ancient Sinhalese or Muslim history in the district. It is Tamil .
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Sagara / May 3, 2018
Muslims are the total gainers of the war.
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Raja Senanayake / May 3, 2018
You are contradicting yourself. Just as Trincomalee is a Muslim majority district you want Islam to prevail with its dress code although you say dress is a personal choice. Please promote personal freedom for Muslim girls.
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Al-faqurlah / May 1, 2018
Latheef Farook, you are correct that when you say this issue is being promoted by elements who want to put Tamils against Muslims, but you pitting the blame on Hindu extremists alone is not quite true. The underlying reason for this is to divert the attention from Sinhala attack on Muslims. If you ask the SL state intelligence people, they will tell you that foreign agencies like Pakistan’s ISA and middle eastern groups including ISIS is active among Muslims in SL, especially in the east. Though there is no terrorism related activity, you cannot deny that Muslims are being made to adopt Islamic fundamentalism such as wearing Arabic clothes and radical practices. Sinhalese are not willing to swallow the sweet talk of Muslims that there is no such Islamic extremism in SL. If you carefully analyse, there is only a thin line dividing Islamic fundamentalism and extremism, and between Islamic extremism and terrorism. This forcing of Abhaya issue in a Tamil school though on the surface being portrayed as a fundamental right, it is in fact a form of terror being unleashed on Tamils to accept Islamic practices in a Hindu school. This issue is bound to spread into Sinhala areas as BBS chief has condemned the action of these Muslim women. Will any Muslim female teacher ever demand that they be allowed to wear Abhaya in a Sinhala school.
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Mallaiyuran / May 1, 2018
Latheef has not written one single point or sentence about the case in discussion. He is inundating with irrelevant information to frame that Tamils are going against Muslims. He is saying a Tamil boy pretended to be Muslim boy and have written anti Tamil propaganda. I like to know more on that from Latheef. From what I head on that, Latheef is great crook to twist it like that.
We accept there are some problems exist in Rohingya like area to Muslims. But there is no need Latheef frame all those into this case and attempt to seek justice against Tamil from Sinhala government.
Our position never changed. SJV never considered there are two ethnic groups, Muslims and Hindus. He attempted to protect Tamil speaking people on this land against Sinhala Only or Standardization like language based discriminations. Ashraf and Amirthalingam agreed to work together. Hakeem is the first Muslim politician cheated Tamil and condemned Tamils as beggars, who are showing their beggar wound to beg from IC against Muslim and Sinhalese. He said in UNHRC Tamil have no problem but all In Lankawe and what they say is only concocted. He said there neither Muslim do have any problems.
Irrelevant of this small fall back, Tamils will continue to seek political solution to minority matter. They will not go in the path of Hakeem like politicians or Latheef like writers to use this to seek perks from corrupted government.
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Jim softy / May 1, 2018
LAtheef Farook: YOu want Hindus to behave as muslims inside a HINDU college because muslims are attending that School. Apply the same logics. why Muslims are not earing the sinhala Attire in Sri lanka which sinhala and why you do not accomodate Sinhala buddhists in our own country. I think that college should ask those muslims to wear the Hindu Dress code if they should be given a ultimatum to leave the school. It is the govt which is at fult and is promoting religious extremism, particcularly WAHABISM. Because, where does it say that muslims have a Dress code except among Wahabis ?
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rbh / May 1, 2018
Why is president is wearing national dress and prime minister is wearing trousers and shirt
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Raja Senanayake / May 3, 2018
Why shouldn’t they exercise their personal freedom of choice of dress.
A nation cannot be built by a common dress.
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Lasith / May 2, 2018
For once I agree with Jim Softly.
Muslims should learn to blend in and you will have less and less problems.
Islam is a religion, it is not an ethnic group. You people are either Tamil or Sinhalese. You are not Arab by any standard. Better you start accepting the truth and be amongst us. Just as Tamil and Sinhalese Christians do.
The more you try to alienate yourselves from the rest of us the more stress you will have. Change with the times like Muslims in the rest of the world.
Being stuck or fixated on trivial issues only goes to prove that you people are just like the rest of us, who think everything is permanent.
Sinhalese people and Tamil people are so fixated on things that they can’t bare to see someone else go up in life either. We want to remain the way we are and Muslims seem to be the same. Genetics my friend. We may claim to be so different by in our core we are so similar and no religion, culture, training or philosophy can change us.
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Raja Senanayake / May 3, 2018
Why try to prescribe a dress code. Let there be personal freedom as long as minimum body coverage is ensured. This should be decided not by the school but by the community. Over time some uniformity in dress may emerge as the minorities like to imitate the majority unless they have an identity problem as the Muslims in Sti Lanka seem to have vis a vis the Tamils and the Sinhalese. It arises from the desire to identify with world Muslims. It seems to me that the world is emerging from nationalism to universal religious identity – Christianity and Islam while the more tolerant Buddhists prefer to be queitist. I think whatever good things that exist cannot be wiped out by rival antagonistic forces.. Islam swept the world at one time but didn’t last. Violence begets violence. Love along can prevail in the long run.
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Jim softy / May 1, 2018
I am very happy Hindus had the courage to take decisions, be strict on behalf of them and not allowing muslims to destroy hindu culture because muslims are not flexible and can not live with other cultures.
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Jim softy / May 1, 2018
LAtheef Farook: I think you need expenses so, ISlamic council of Sri lanka or that Jamaiia… what evr it is wanted you to write this crap. I heard you understand what buddhist Vidharshana bhavana is.
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Ana Pararajasingham / May 1, 2018
I do believe there is some truth in your argument. In any case, I was deeply disappointed by Sampanthan’s take on permitting Muslim women choosing their own attire. Has also insulted the memory of Thanthai Chelva by dragging his name into his convoluted argument.
You may also wish to visit
http://www.atimes.com/hindutva-takes-tamil-nationalism/
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Amarasiri / May 1, 2018
Latheef Farook,
RE: Abhaya Issue At Trinco Hindu Ladies’ College; Conspiracy To Pit Tamils Against Muslims?
“The explosive controversy over Muslim teachers wearing Abhaya at Shri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College at Trincomalee has all the potentials to tear apart relations between the Tamil-Muslim communities to the detriment of both. “
Since both Para-Tamils and Para-Muslims are equally stupid, ( IQ, 79) this has become a contest as who is stupider. The Para-Sinhala ( IQ 79) are not any better. For all of them, stupidity is a virtue.
National IQ Scores – Country Rankings
https://photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
The intelligence scores came from work carried out earlier this decade by Richard Lynn, a British psychologist, and Tatu Vanhanen, a Finnish political scientist, who analysed IQ studies from 113 countries, and from subsequent work by Jelte Wicherts, a Dutch psychologist.
Countries are ranked highest to lowest national IQ score.
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lal / May 1, 2018
Dear Lateef,
Sad, you and many in the Muslim community feel cornered by both Sinhala and Tamil extremists. True, there are ignorant and spiteful elements in our midst. Let that not be a barrier to integrate as there are many in the community who are accepting of cultures other than their own. A multicultural societies are interesting; let not the current abhorrent incidents deter your community from integrating with the wider community. Your suggestions to the government are as welcome as you should be encouraging your community, especially your youth, both male and female to be more open and engaging with Tamil and Sinhala.
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Menna Aththa / May 1, 2018
You ungrateful myth believers. You forgot Mahinda R’s lifelong support for the Palestinian cause ( a street is named after him in the Gaza Strip) and he was targetted by the Israeli and US forces at the UN to take revenge ager getting Saddam Hussein, Gadaffi etc. Sri Lankan Muslims were so selfish and they couldn’t care less. Now they, like La-Thief here, are screaming of racism here! You ungrateful myth believers deserve worse.
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DPJ / May 1, 2018
Latiff, You are absolutely correct. “Unlike in the past, Sri Lanka today is a playing ground for destructive international forces”. All such things started with the Petro Dollars in the Mid East with the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Nassar. Sri Lanka became the playing ground of the minority Muslims. With monies pumped in by countries like Saudi Arabia, the Muslims became rich and started their nefarious activities. Look at the tea trade. They are caught trying to export refuse tea. The people behind are 99.99% Muslims. Lorries are caught with stolen cattle. Here even it is the Muslims. In the narcotic business it is the Muslims. They are grabbing land that belonged to Buddhist temples for centuries. In short Muslims are behind almost all illegal activities in the country.
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Jamal / May 1, 2018
Who kills tuskers for gajamuthu? NOT Muslims
click here to see who!
Who lock up their parents in the garden shed. NOT Muslims
Who are the king pins in the Narcotics trade ? NOT Muslims
Who run the Liquor Bars and Taverns and brothels? NOT Muslims
Who manufactures and transport illegally brewed kassippu? NOT Muslims
Who attacks Tourists and sexually abuse them? NOT Muslims
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Amarasiri / May 6, 2018
Jamal ,
Who…….????
Para-Sinhala Buddhists. Some are Para-Sinhala “Buddhist” Monks.
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soma / May 1, 2018
“To the shock of everyone, instead, Rajapaksa government unleashed violence and turned the country into a living hell. ”
I can understand why Muslims are disliked world over.
Soma
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Native Vedda / May 1, 2018
somass
–
“I can understand why Muslims are disliked world over.”
–
Is it because Dr Mahinda (LLD + 3 X PhD) a compassionate humanitarian?
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kulan / May 1, 2018
If Muslims were violating Hindu traditions in a traditional Hindu Missionary School in Trinco. Then what about putting Saraswathy Statue, Statue of Hindu Leader Navalar in Schools founded by Christian Missionaries Vincient, Batticaloa, Vembadi, Jaffna & Central, Jaffna
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Steve / May 1, 2018
The constitution provides the overall rules with regards to what is an acceptable dress in public for its citizens. However, institutions – Schools, Armed Forces, Airlines, Hotels, Private/Public Sector offices etc etc have their own Dress Codes that need to be followed. Those, for religious or other reasons do not want to follow these Dress Codes should stay at home.
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K.Pillai / May 1, 2018
In the past Muslim Ladies covered the head with the saree (Mottaakku) and this was accepted. The Abhaya is comparatively recent but if they choose to wear it, they must be allowed to do so. After all Christian nuns and clergy wear their distinctive dress to work and so do Buddhist Priests.
In the same breadth non-Muslim teachers in Muslim schools must not be compelled to wear the Abhaya.
.
Latheef Farook’s effort to bring in RSS is quite inappropriate. Do you really think that Vanni RSS (If there is one) can wipe out ALL the Lankan Muslims?
If there is any truth in the Israel conspiracy, you must persuade the Muslim MPs to take it up in the parliament
.
You say ~ “………….parliamentarian Abdullah Mahroof has accused parliamentarian Seenithamby Yogeswaran and pro LTTE elements of being behind the controversy”.
They say “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings”. In your case do you have to bring LTTE into this?
On the whole your approach will only exacerbate the situation. Was it deliberate?
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / May 2, 2018
Christian nuns and priests and also Buddhist and Hindu priests confine their work and teaching to their own schools and intrude on other religious institutions or schools. You do not see a nun teaching in a Buddhist school or a Buddhist priest in a Christian Hindu or Muslim school. When people belonging to other religions work and teach at an institution that is not of their religion , they dress in secular manner and if there is any evidence of their religion it kept very low key. Muslims were also doing this a generation ago but have now become very aggressive and in the name of their religion and Arab culture want to Islamise and Arabize everyone. It is ok is they were following the traditional local Muslim Tamil culture of wearing the saree with the end covering their head, no one will object to it. However what they are now doing is aggressively trying to force an alien fundamentalist Arab Islamic culture and dress forms down the throats of everyone and falsely portray it as local Muslim culture. It is not it fundamentalist Wahhabi Arab culture not Tamil Muslim culture. This is wear the difference . If they want they can do it in a Muslim school but not in a Hindu Christian or Buddhist School. No one is asking this Muslim teacher to follow Hinduism or Hindu culture but to dress accordingly to the local Muslim culture and not some foreign Wahhabi Arab culture and say now this is my culture and form of dress and accept this. This is the beginning what will follow next.
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Uthungan / May 4, 2018
Latheif Farook
Do you know during the fifties and sixties of the last century there were Tamil Hindu ladies among the staff at Zahira College Colombo, and they wore sarees and were not forced to cover their heads with the saree as Muslim women did in those days?
Islam was secular then. It is fundamentalist now.
I knew the Principal of the said school late Mr. A.M.A.Azeez a man from Jaffna who was a student at Vaideeswara Vidyalayam who told me that he wakes up in the morning with late Ms. Sublaksmi’s Subrapatham echoing in his years and that makes his day.
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kulan / May 3, 2018
The RSS man Mr. Satchiananthan writes in Thinakural recently against a Muslim Principal in a Tamil Hindu school in Aunuradhapura. He says this is after the 83 riots This is the same to Christain schools in the North & East. Many Schools founded by Christian missionaries have Hindus as the Head in the North. Central College, Vembadi, American Mission schools etc.. These schools today have mainly Hindu practices. With Statutes of Hindu Goddesses & Hindu leaders in their premises.
There were posters put by RSS in the the North recently before & after the local govt, elections. This was related to elect local bodies which revoke licences to beef stalls etc.So RSS operates in the the North.
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Pandi Kutti / May 3, 2018
Posting under a Tamil identity does not fool us. You are now cunningly trying to create a rift between the Christian and Hindu Tamils , just like what was done between the Muslim and non Muslim Tamils. There religion and a concocted Arab/Moor origin was used very effectively and now you are trying to use denial of Christian rights, when no one is denying anyone their rights. However this will not work , as Christian and Hindu Tamils are far more united and there is relationships and blood ties between them. I am an Anglican. Good try.
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Sadhu / May 1, 2018
Look like Threatening of a female (Principal) by a male ( teacher’s husband) is acceptable to Latheef Farouk. I am sure no other person from any community will accept this.
I don’t know what sort of upbringing this husband had, bringing disgrace to his community.
L.F should have advised the husband to sort out this matter with the Education Dept without going to school and confronting the Principal. By dragging RSS LTTE Yogeswaran etc unnecessarily , LF is pouring oil in the fire.
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Sadhu / May 1, 2018
Latheef Farook
Please read the interview with buddhist monk Rev sankaratna thero of Amparai appearing in battinatham tamil website re current situation in eastern province, particularly the question of failure in upgrading of Kalmunai Tamil divisional office. Why do Muslim oppose the upgrading? Tamil politicians including Sampanthan are keeping quite on this matter for last several years for the sake of not to upset Tamil Muslim relationship in EP by asking for it. How long tamils have to suffer by this idiotic attitude of Tamil politicians ? Can the good relationship being built by depriving the benefits of one community by another ? Hope these politicians will read this interview and learn to correct their mistakes.
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Sundaram / May 1, 2018
Is it a conspiracy? or is it the work of Wahabi madmen who think they can impose Saudi laws on our land and our people? We are the majority in that area. We go with moderate dress code. We do not want Muslim Wahabi Salafist radical zealots. If you want to keep your woman in a black gunnysack from head to toe, go to Saudi Arabia or do it at HOME. Our school is a public school maintained by PUBLIC funds.
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nagavitharana / May 1, 2018
can a Sinhalese or tamil female live in Saudi Arabia without wearing Abaya??
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SJ / May 1, 2018
n
Do you think that we should be the other side of the Saudi coin?
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yusuf / May 1, 2018
Nagavitharana,
“can a Sinhalese or tamil female live in Saudi Arabia without wearing Abaya??”
Most certainly. Watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5IzWV_Di6
There are places even in Saudi where you can do anything you do here.
But in Sri Lanka even Mahayana Buddhists are not allowed to worship.
Do not look up and spit.
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Jim softy / May 2, 2018
[edited out] Do you allow your wife to without covering the head and the face except eyes. I have seen things.
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yusuf / May 2, 2018
Jimmy boy,
Are you a Mahayana Buddhist in Canada? What do you take to make you see things?
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rbh / May 2, 2018
covering is good
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gamini / May 1, 2018
Although some believe that God created man, others believe it is man that created God. God certainly did not create clothes for man. It is man who created clothes for man. Therefore I wonder how when Jesus was crucified in a span cloth, three days later he is supposed to have risen, all dressed in a long garb. Who tailored it for him?
Be it hijab, nicab, habaya or burka all have been created by man and not God. Early humans living in Asia have been comfortable living nude or semi nude with the least clothing. This does not mean that today’s Asians should run around naked. Similarly due to reasons of weather such long dresses would have provided the warmth. Therefore to force it on women today living in different climates that do not require such attire, but to impose as a Religious requirement is plain stupid.
The writer quoting the Constitution does not mention that this form of dress should be allowed to be worn as a right of an individual to display faith. If the rules of a Country require easy identification, in today’s context the Country has every right to ban this mode of dress, as it is a security risk.
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga / May 1, 2018
First of all, I must mention that wearing abhaya and Hijab are not Islam as these were practises of tribal people in Arabian peninsula and later introduce to quran.
These practises were brought to Sri Lanka by Tamil women who went to Arabian Peninsula as domestic workers and started practising it in the 90 ties onwards.
They do this mainly to show solidarity with the muslims of Arabian peninsula. Besides, the colour of black is considered as the ghost colour by the majority of Sri Lanka as well.
Both actions clearly antagonizing the majority here and as a minority community , Muslims started behaving as an entity not belonging to Sri Lanka. The result was simmering in the mid of people mainly of the majority.
Similarly, the other minority and specifically Tamil community political leadership is continuously asking Tamil Elam or something leading to separation as political solution.
In this way, both the major minorities are antagonizing the majority of this country and what they do not understand is asking and doing these practices make them going away from the majority rather than reconciliation if they want.
In view of the above, it is very clear that if the minorities cannot stop these practices, antagonizing the majority, unusual and unpractical and non-existing demands as political solutions, there will not be any reconciliation, peace and harmony among racial groups living in Sri Lanka.
It is undisputable that this land Sri Lanka belonging to Sinhalese Buddhist as all the archeological findings clearly proved it without any semblance of doubt and anybody or organistation tries to challenge it will get the same fate of LTTE on the banks of Nanthikadal and this is the lesson learn from the recent history.
Therefore, Hijab, Abhaya and demands for federalism, elam and talking about homelands for specific parts of the country will never be good for all the masses living in this beautiful land as all shall live , think and behave as Sri Lankans.
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Kabaragoya / May 1, 2018
Sorry, it is Sinhalese who send their women to Arab countries in large numbers and live on their earnings.
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pirabaharan velupillai / May 2, 2018
Nimal
This land ( Eelam) is Tamil ( Dravidian) land , Sinhala Land is in Orissa, you can go there and claim your land.What archeological findings are you talking about ? ARE you talking about Your fake history. Do you know according to a European historian their is no tooth of Buddha at Dalada but a crocodile tooth is kept in a casket there as it was a huge tooth which could not have come from a human. you sinhala buddhist bull shiters will soon claim buddha was born on the adam’s peak in Lanka
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SJ / May 1, 2018
Leading Hindu Schools in Colombo allow Muslim teachers to wear the Abhaya.
It is a decent dress by any of our standards.
It was daft of the school authorities to make an issue of it.
It was as daft to build it up into a big issue something that could have been settled with a little tolerance and common sense..
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Mallaiyuran / May 4, 2018
It is a decent dress by any of our standards We have no idea of the name or the names in that “Ours”. But certainly the “Ours” is not living in a civilized world. The civilized world had bypassed many theories postulated by “ours” cumbersome mind. School should not feed to children that appearance of female body has created sin in this this world, so it should be cemented and hidden or should be stoned by moderate men walking on the road, otherwise it is indecent. Neither a subtle hidden, step by step advocacy to that path is “decent” in our standards. School children should be taught the science of psychology of the human mind and the physiology of the Human body. Teaching crooked cunningness is not decent in schools. The step by step path to civilization is the decency perceived as in our mind.
“It was as daft to build it up into a big issue something that could have been settled with a little tolerance and common sense “ What is tolerance or intolerance cannot be only “Ours”. A non-follower of “Ours” becoming an infidel cannot be tolerance. It is intolerance, in all the worlds’ heads where sunlight of learning can reach. Further tolerance is best expressed by a common sense saying, “When in Rome do as Romans does”. That is the best decency and best tolerance. Teachers has to have a trait of elaborating & explaining instead of standing off that Rabbits have three legs because “ours” one has only three legs.
The nuance of Ceylon’s age old customs should be possible to differentiate and understand by learned teachers, from a misogynistic regionalism. Without understand that high intelligence, teaching is not possible, in schools. Further, rejecting religious uniforms in school compound is not enforcing Hindu dress code. Learned person has to have the capacity to perceive that difference too.
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Mallaiyuran / May 4, 2018
The Principal has pointed out to the new teacher to follow the customs set by the previous Muslim female teachers. The new teacher could not follow the consultancy because the new teacher’s husband started group forming outside the school with a mentality of “You take side of Hindu, we take the side of Muslims”. This man converted the Old teachers’ husbands to rebel, too. Apparently it is the new teachers’ husband brought in a new rule wiping out the old Muslims teachers customs, followed in that school. By this group formation, the new teacher’s husband enforced a new uniform code to school:” Muslim Teachers must wear Muslims uniform and Hindu teachers must wear Hindu Uniform.” This Religious segregationally Uniform code enforcement did not come from the School Principal but appears as the idea of the new teacher’s husband. This a pure external forceful religious conversion activity forced into an age old school. That much presence of eternal influence inside this school is creating fear of if the Middle East funding is going to work on defending these Muslim Husbands activities inside school with high power Lawyers and as usual, buy the Colombo’s corrupted politicians and traitor writers to convert this school into an Arabic school.
The Principal has, in earlier cases, had allowed the Muslims lady teachers to wear cloth for their feeling to hide the hair. But the step by step conversion has been creeping in though the husbands of the female teachers. Ruling the women by men and being trained to be submissive to that tradition is introduced into young girls’ minds by one step at time, by eternally & politically funded resistance to follow the age old free customs. A Ceylonese wearing a sari is taught as Hinduism and rejecting sari is the basic dedication to Islamic divinity to taught to Young minds as decency and Tolerance.
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Mallaiyuran / May 4, 2018
Even the most distorted history writers of the land is saying the Arabian only married Sari wearing Hindu women in Ceylon and they never brought any Arabian Muslims women who were wearing Abaya. There never any Abaya was stitched in Arabian Peninsula and brought in to Ceylon. Hindu women wearing sari and sleeping with them was decent and tolerable for long time. Further, Hinduism is known to its democratic norms in comparison to other religions. There is nowhere any law set in anywhere that a Hindu has to wear any ID in any of the place. Hinduism advocates Sanyasam, which reject its own ID.
This is a Hindu girls’ school. There is no need for woman to seek ultimate protection against preying men, in the name of tolerance or decency. (There is no need for Defense Dept. to force that school guard wearing always a bomb defusing uniform telling that he may encounter a bomb on his duty so he has to be protecting him.) That will not healthy for the view and the minds of the kids. Principal cannot rebel for religion practicing right inside the school, in the name of decency. She cares how the kids are molded for future human civilization.
Abaya is not a decent dress. It is highly woman controlling, religious uniform-an extremism. The only use of Abaya is to exert control on women. None of Pottu, flower, Sari is Hindu symbol. They are women makeup things, eventually preserved as Hindu symbols. Accepting them as non-religious products or categorize them as Hindu extremism is not within the authority of a husband of Muslims teacher. It is not the teacher who fought with the principal. It was the husband did it. That is where the enforcement of religious extremism is being smuggled into school. Principal is not obligated accept any definition if decency or religiously provocative uniform. But she has the authority to reject a un-scenery dress for the bewilderment for the rural area kids.
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kurangu / May 1, 2018
Maybe we can ask Atte Gnansara Thero to mediate the issue. He will find a solution for sure.
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MR / May 2, 2018
SJ
Issue here is the threatening behaviour of teacher’s husband towards a lady principal. Husband should have taken up this matter with educational authorities instead of being a macho. Protest by old students took place due to his unruly behaviour against a defenceless lady in her room. I am sure no one will tolerate this sort of behaviour.
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SJ / May 4, 2018
It is no endorsement of any misconduct.
But a head of school should know the law of the land and be sensitive to personal matters.
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Naman / May 2, 2018
Head scarf should not be any problem to any religion but they should not cover their faces too.
ALL teachers are to be respected by all.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / May 2, 2018
The Traditional dress of the Tamil Muslim women in the country is the saree with the Muthanai covering the head. Similar to the way North Indian Hindu women drape their saree. No one objects to this and feels threatened by this dress, as this is part and parcel of the country’s culture and part of the Tamil Muslim Sufi tradition , that even Hindu Tamils accept as part of the Tamil tradition belonging to Tamil Muslims. This sort of dress and Islam portrays tolerance , secularism and does not evoke fear, as Hindu and Christian Tamils feel , this part of the great secular Tamil culture and Muslim Tamils despite all the misgivings are still part of them. However the Black Arab Abaya Purdah and Hijab that is alien to the island and even to its Islamic traditions portrays Islamic extremism fundamentalism , Wahhabis/Salafist intolerance from Western Asia and the Arabian Gulf. This not only creates fear amongst the Tamils but even from the majority Sinhalese , as black is associated with evil . This also increases the suspicion that the island’s Muslims , who are South Indian by race are now increasingly disassociating themselves from the island’s people and culture and deliberately Arabising themselves, disassociating themselves from their own rich tolerant Tamil Sufi Islamic heritage and becoming increasingly aggressive intolerant and Wahhabi and identifying themselves with the Arabs , who really care two hoots for them. Even in many Muslim majority countries only a small percentage of women wear this dress, as it is alien to them and their culture too. Islam has never stated that women should cover themselves and wear black Abaya. Saying this people have a right to wear what they like but it should be according to the place and occasion and not to create fear and anxiety in others.
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rbh / May 2, 2018
If black is associated is evil
What about the Uniform Suit black gives you a exquisite appearance, US president is also wearing balck suits
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SJ / May 2, 2018
When did the sari become anybody’s traditional dress?
What did Tamils wear in the Sangam period?
One hardly sees Tamil females younger than 40 in sari in urban areas.
Tradition changes with time.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / May 3, 2018
Saree (Chelai) has been the traditional dress of Tamil women from the earliest times. . It was worn in different styles . Traditions changing for the better is good but not back to the middle ages and being barbaric where a section of the population ( women ) who were more free and emancipated now being made slaves of men. This is what the Black Abaya and Purdah is . You can post what ever you want to support this barbaric practice to enslave women but this is the truth. At least Tamil women under 40s living in urban areas are not covering themselves in a strange black Abaya or Purdah in the tropical heat , like some medieval female chattel and demanding everyone else should follow this or accept this Saudi Wahhabi black sack cloth that imprisons and treats women as third class ,in the name of a religion. Islam has never sanctioned any of this nonsense. This has nothing to do with modesty but to with ignorant insecure men’s power and religious fundamentalism .that is being forced on others who do not want it to be accepted as norm. This has nothing to do with tradition. It was never the tradition of the Muslim women of this land but the tradition of Wahhabi Saudi Arabia , where women are now rebelling against this barbarity. Next they will import the blue sack cloth from Taliban Afghnistan and state this is also local Islamic tradition and want everyone to accept this. What next banning of Music films dancing in the name of Islam and call it tradition? Next time they also want female circumcision , which unlike male circumcision that is good for the health is barbaric. Will you also support this stating tradition is changing?
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SJ / May 4, 2018
How early is early?
What people wore changed with time and will keep changing.
People make choices and one person’s food is another’s poison.
There is nothing constant about tradition.
Let us learn some tolerance and abandon racial, cultural and ethnic arrogance.
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Sagara / May 3, 2018
Mr.latheef
Most of your statements here are wrong and built on guesswork. In the trinco incident it was conducted by the parents and past pupil association.don’t show your paranoia by interpreting as international plan against muslims. Are you talking evidence based sir? Your imaginations are unlimited.
Infact definitly eastern muslims are funded and supported by foreign agencies as ISI (pakistan inteligence) .Hisbulla is building a islamic university in punanai in previously tamil owned land on an expenditure of 500 crores. Rizard Badurudeen stareted to colonize wilbattu with Turkish money . There is an acute surge of land grab by muslims going on in east . Who is the winding gorce in the back?
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Sadhu / May 3, 2018
Latheef Farook
When young children look at their teacher in the class room , does not matter belongs to any religion, who shows only eyes and rest covered with black dress, don’t they get scared and loose their concentration?
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