By Tariq A Al Maeena –
Tariq A. Al-Maeena
The undercurrent of racial tensions sweeping through Sri Lanka is gaining momentum. Unchecked and unrestrained by a government appearing to give in to their divisive demands, the terrorist Buddhist group, the Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force), is threatening to turn the island into a bloody battlefield.
The Muslims targeted by this fanatical element are not the only minority being subjected to acts of violence. Christians on the island are also under attack.
The authorities are turning a blind eye and the mainstream media chooses to ignore this rising peril. Recently, two churches were attacked by the radical elements of the BBS, and two others forced to shut down due to pressure from these fanatics.
On March 9 in Batticaloa, BBS rogues burned down a church in the middle of the night. On March 17, a mob led by Buddhist monks barged into the Brethren Church in Agalawatte and threatened them into stopping the services.
On the same day, in another part of the country, four monks along with a cameraman went to the Margaya Fellowship Church at Sevanapitiya in Polonnaruwa. They accused the pastor of converting Buddhists and ordered him to shut down the ministry. The police arrived not long after and ‘advised’ the pastor to pay heed to their demands.
At Suriyaweva in Ambilipitiya, monks entered a house church and demanded that the meetings be stopped as they were not registered with the local authorities. On the same day in Weeraketiya, a house church was ransacked.
On March 10, the Assembly of God Church at Kottawa was visited by monks and the police who ordered the pastor to stop the meetings as they had not obtained permission from the local authority. A few days later, the Pentecostal Assemblies Church at Kottawa was visited by a mob led by monks who told them to stop the meetings as they had not obtained permission from the local authority. Another Pentecostal church in Galle was subjected to similar demands and threats.
Subjugation
Last week, a BBS mob led by monks went to the Gethsemane Church in Hikkaduwa and threatened them to stop the meetings. A pastor working in Agnukolapallssa was also threatened with physical assault. The police simply asked him to stop the services. These are all facts gleaned from those who have been subjected to this racial tension in Sri Lanka. Buoyed by their success in the halal food certification issue, the radical Buddhist group seems intent on subjugating the island’s minorities into oblivion.
The Muslims, Tamils and Christians along with sensible Sinhalese Buddhists all have reasons to be alarmed. The government is playing politics by not reacting while the situation threatens to get out of hand. It will certainly not be a good thing for the country. So far, the minorities have been very restrained in reacting to these acts of personal transgression against their beliefs. The Muslims, in particular, are very disturbed by the attacks of these unruly Buddhists, who have been targeting their practices and beliefs.
Factual events of Buddhists chasing Muslim women and tearing off their clothes have been recorded and reported to the police. Their religion has been slurred and subjected to ridicule through crude drawings and posters. Their mosques have been attacked and burned. Their shops and business have been raided, and the BBS is warning off all customers from patronising their establishments.
Shocking Rhetoric
As one Sri Lankan charged: “Disgraceful and distasteful anti-Muslim rhetoric is being ‘dished out’ by more than 25 anti-Muslim websites. The Sri Lanka government is fully aware of all these sites and the provocative and insulting posts ranging from desecrating our Creator, our Prophet (PBUH), our Holy Book, etc but [it] just ‘looks the other way.”
Another Sri Lankan from whom I borrowed the title for my column had this to say: “I am an 83-year-old Muslim, and my physical condition is such as to make me unable to move or travel to Makkah. While all this is happening against the Muslims of my country, the Arabs are supplying oil, and also giving aid. If we do not get the support of the Arabs and Muslims, what are we going to say when we stand before Allah. My tears have not ceased since these attacks started in our country. I am old now, but what are we going to leave for the next generation of our fellow Sri Lankans? Your brother Ismaeel.”
The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is playing a dangerous game by not forcefully putting an end to this tide of racial tensions. Sri Lanka is becoming an unsafe place to visit for business or pleasure as any moment now, the island could become engulfed in another chapter of bloody racial violence. Arab and Muslim countries must take decisive measures for the protection of all of the island’s minorities from these radical elements. It is increasingly apparent that the Sri Lankan government is unwilling to do so.
Nabil / April 15, 2013
Tariq Al Maeena,
We Muslims of Sri Lanka are thankful to you for voicing our plight to the Arab world through your good journalism/articles in the Arab News. Please continue to do your good service on behalf of us and also make sure that all your articles are translated in Arabic so that every Arab household in KSA and the surrounding Arab countries should understand what the Sinhala-Buddhists in Sri Lanka are doing to the innocent Muslims.
You already know that there are around eight hundred thousand Sinhala-Buddhist women working in KSA alone as housemaids, nannies and cleaners and how well the Arabs are treating them.
Thank you sir once again for giving us a voice in the Arab world.
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Nabil / April 16, 2013
the Avatar again :(
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Bust / April 16, 2013
The Bustard busts it’s tunnel wide open.
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Nabil / April 18, 2013
Dear CT Editor,
A person calling himself “Senguthuvan” is using my Pseudo name “Nabil”in yellow Gavatar to attack and provoke Non-Muslims . You will agree that it is the work of a coward and must be condemned most vehemently.
I appeal to you to refrain from publishing his blatantly racists comments masquerading as a Muslim. What I object to is the use of a Muslim name;he is most welcome to use a Non-Muslim name to say whatever he has to say.
I would also ask fellow Muslims to register your protest with CT
Thank You
Nabil
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P.B / April 15, 2013
Tarique you are correct. Sri Lankans are not BSS thugs . Those are crazy, underprivileged individuals trying to get their 10 miniutes of glory. Send the white vans to them????
But please send a message to the Muslims too . All these years Muslims lived with out any problems. So like all my Muslim friends say, Halal label is a mafia. The ladies who cover them selves from head to toe are trying to follow a Wahabi way of life. Ina country where , the parliament is full of thugs we can not feel safe with this dress. Next thing is those thieves will get in to places in this garb and rob us. So ask them to live, and cover them selves like they did for thousands of years. We do not need trouble.
Even in Saudi, when a lady goes to work you have to provide her with a private room in the afternoon when she comes back from work she locks her door. After a few years they found out, she works in the or ing but, send her servant to work in the afternoon. Stop this Arabic Wahabi dress , we need our Muslim friends to be and dress like they always did. Why don’t you take the time to advice them?
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Imana / April 15, 2013
As a practising Muslim lady, I agree with you 100% on the dress code.
As for the halaal label, it was the businesses who wanted the certification.
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Fair N Square / April 15, 2013
what do u mean by ” a practising Muslim lady” ? If you do not cover yourself properly.. YOU CANT be practising as per the Quran… It says Oh you men cover your women from head to bosom so men do not be led astray… or to that effect.. Wearing tight fitting clothes is NOT permitted according to this Ayath… and also wearing a saree with a blouse isn’t either, for it exposes a woman’s belly, back and cleveage .. which can arouse men who are not of sound character…
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Outspoken Sri Lankan / April 15, 2013
BBS STOP THIS NONSENSE. THE SINHALESE SHOULD BAND TOGETHER. WE ARE A MINORITY IN THE WORLD AND WE HAD ENOUGH OF CHEATING AT EXAMINATIONS AND THE TAMIL EXAM MARKING BEING LENIENT TO GET A DISPROPORTIONAL NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL PLACES IN UNIVERSITIES FOR MINORITY TAMILS. NOW THE MUSLIMS WANT A PIECE OF OUR COUNTY. WE SINHALESE SHOULD LEARN TO BEHAVE AND PUSH OURSELVES FORWARD QUIETLY. IT IS STUPID TO SHOW IT OPENLY. WE SHOULD BE LIKE THEM. TAMILS ONLY GIVE JOBS TO TAMILS. MUSLIMS EMPLOY ONLY MUSLIMS WHEN THEY CAN DO IT WE SHOULD DO IT TOO. NOT BY VIOLENCE BUT QUIETLY.
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Imana / April 15, 2013
Brandix, Hemas, Expolanka – 100% owned by Muslims. I would ask the not so smart ‘outspoken Sri Lankan’ to examine the demographic mix of ethnicities in these Companies which are rated among the top.
Sinhala Buddhist only employees – Maliban, Munchee, Swadeshi – do you want me to go on ?
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Fair N Square / April 15, 2013
The VERY orginization the BBS stoned.. aka. Fashion Bug employs Sinhalese and Tamils too though they are Muslims… So does NO LIMIT… and many more commercial establishments… YES correct me if I am wrong in saying Maliban does NOT employ Muslims and not ONE is employed there is what I am made to understand.. They are front runners in the BBS support and boycotting Muslim business issue along with Siddhalepa…
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Dhaksha / April 16, 2013
You are no outspoken Sri Lankan. You are a trouble maker without facts. If you think your comment is credible, then think again. It is a known fact that these Muslim business have a majority of Sinhala employees, for which everyone should be thankful. Try not to show your ignorance and hate. Trouble makers are not welcome here. Writing in caps will only convince others you are making up for lack of facts.
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Senguttuvan / April 15, 2013
Dear Mr. Tariq A Al Maaena
Thank you for the keen interest you take in the welfare of Muslims in this country – who have undergone some difficulty recently as a result of misguided action by a small number of some radical religious bigots. Our Govt assures they are doing their best to protect our Muslims in terms of guarantees afforded in our Constitution. Mercifully, these incidents have petered out quite a bit in the past weeks. Credit for this must go to the Rajapakse Family, established good friends of the Arabs for decades.
Now that you appear to be a friend of this country, allow me to ask of you a favour, which I have canvassed elsewhere for many years. I am confident, in your capacity as a well known and influential journalist in the Arab lands your voice will go far in seeking this favour for us.
1.We have close upon a million poor Lankan workers making their own contributions to the economy, industries and services of your country as unskilled workers in offices, factories, oil installations, homes, hospitals and elsewhere. They help in their employers achieving a better Quality of Life for the Arab people. Most of them, it appears to us, are highly under-paid. The average monthly wage of workers in these categories is in the region of $200 to 250. We learn a local doing similar functions gets paid over $2,000 with better conditions of work.
2.It is also learnt the Per Capita per year in countries like Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia ranges from US$50,000 to $65,000 – thanks to your huge petroleum wealth. I am sure it will not strain your economies very much if you raise this upto about $500 per month so that
Sri Lanka can also benefit in some way by this minor increase.
3. We understand domestic workers in homes are often over-worked. Some forced to work non-stop for even as high as 20 hours a day. Often we learn when the work in one home is over they are made to work in the homes of other relatives and so on.
4. We hear of regular cases of extreme cruelty and torture to workers
in Arab homes. Many of them have come home in coffins with signs of brutal injuries. Cases of assaults, rape, physical abuse, burning are common. Can we ask you to create the necessary consciousness in the Arab media asking employers to be more humane and kind to those who work in their homes. I am sure such a campaign will reduce these incidents to a great deal.
5. By usual standards in other countries in the West, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong and so on work is only for 8 hours and employees are given a day and half off weekly. Can we ask you to push for this improvement on behalf of our workers, which will create a better image of the Arab employer in the world?
6. We are also told most workers are not provided with Life and Workers Compensation Insurance – payable by the Employer. I am sure you will be kind enough to recommend this at your side, as done in many other countries. Please also consider including the facility where the employer provides two pre-paid return airfares every 6 months for a fornights visit home
4. We are told you have a feature called Falaal where, it is said, an employee is considered the personal property of the employer. Like Slaves in the old days, the employer has control over the life and death of such employees. I am sure you do not subscribe to this medieval reality – that is against all humane and religious practises
of the modern world.
5. The Arabs are a highly religious people and believe in rewards in Paradise for good deeds performed on earth. They too believe in a Compassionae and Merciful Almighty. We believe in this too and are sure you will be able to help our workers in this regard, for which they will remember you for a long time. We have now and then heard the callous remark if you don’t want to work on our conditions, just keep off. I am sure you agree with us, this is an unfair attitude. In the Western Countries, Australia and so on they do not exploit the helplessness of the foreign worker. These Christian countries, in fact, provide the same excellent benefits they provide for their own. I am sure the good and richer Arabs can improve upon this.
I hope in your next article you will have some good news for us.
Senguttuvan
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Fair N Square / April 15, 2013
Thankx to you our Bureau of Foreign Employment is put to shame… Further.. ” Outspoken Sri-Lankan” says Muslims do NOT employ sinhalese… and you say close to a million of females of all ethnicities are employed JUST in Saudi… I bet more than half of that figure is Sinhalese..ummm I wonder what to make out of this…
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ONE / April 15, 2013
Around a million are Sinhalese. When the dollar is undervalued in SL the workers have a major problem. If the pay is increased what guarantee do the workers have that SL government will not undervalue it further. The government and its lobbyist would like the workers to be paid better Ha ha so that all the cronies can buy all the imported luxuries at rock bottom prices!
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ONE / April 15, 2013
High Hopes! As long as Arabs see the rest of society as infidel the unskilled workforce will have to undergo the treatment.
Even in the west getting a minimum wage for all takes ages and once applied keeping it is even more difficult.
When multinationals have to compete a productive workforce in China the stakes are high for foreign investment.
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Red Boxer One / April 16, 2013
The Langotty statistics or testicticks, Are you brained with a rolling pin?
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rajo / April 16, 2013
Why by knowing all these still queuing up in hordes to emigrate for employment in Middle East.
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S. Ahamed / April 18, 2013
It seems CT has reproduced Tariq’s article which had been initially written for the information of Arab/Muslim readers in Saudi Arabia. Hence, I have the least hope that Tariq would ever see your comment.
I have seen few articles in the past by Tariq calling for increased welfare of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Most of your suggestion are good if they were to be sent to Saudi rulers. Nevertheless, I wish to add something which I know about Saudi.
Although the GDP per-capita income is several thousand dollars in Saudi, most of the Saudi and expatriate families that recruit Sri Lankan maids, drivers and cleaners etc are from either poor or middle class families. The rich people go for educated Filipinos and Arabs like Egyptians. If the Saudi government increases the minimum wage to 500$, then the number of recruits from Sri Lanka would fall to near zero, because the salary of a middle class Saudi worker is around 1500$ only. You may wonder how these people manage to pay 200$ to maids out of that, in addition to paying about 3000$ recruitment expenses. There, the cost of living is very low, almost no taxes on imported food and other essential items. You can buy a decent corolla for 3000$. Kilo of Chicken is about 3$. Better you discuss minimum wage with Minister Dilan Perera first, he would refuse to increase the minimum wage even by 5$ because of the fear of losing market.
In Saudi and many other countries, the domestic workers are treated as part of the household members. You just do a survey in Sri Lanka to find out as to how many Sri Lankan employers are sticking to 8 hour work time for their domestic helpers who are mostly of estate sector females. It is not practical unless you hire cleaners from companies on hourly payment basis. I am not justifying over work or long working hours but only telling that if you want to stop such abuses, you need to either stop the maid from employment or assign her to a cleaning company to employ on hourly basis.
Employer-labour dispute is common in any country and to deal with it they have labour departments. You cannot have an ideal situation where there is 100% cordial relationship. If you take one million people, some will die irrespective of they are being in SL or abroad and irrespective of their age. If you take one million Sri Lankans in Middle East, the deaths are less than 1000 per year which is less than 0.1%. And criminal deaths are less than 100 per year which less than 0.01%. The reported cases of abuses is less than 10,000 which is less than 1%. These percentages are much less than the percentages of disputes in Sri Lanka. This is why the government and people of Sri Lanka still allow employment in Middle East. You know many people divorce. Do you ban marriage because of few divorce? You just establish courts to deal with divorce and allow marriages to continue! And that is how the life goes on. If you are a perfectionist, then you do not deserve to live in this world. You learn to manage problems rather than trying to hide from it.
In Saudi Arabia it is compulsory to have insurance for foreign workers. The domestic workers who are not covered by social insurance are now covered by domestic workers’ insurance scheme which was introduced recently.
The sponsorship law (Kafalath) is implemented to protect the rights of both the employer as well as employee. If it is not there, an employee can cheat the employer by robbing and leaving the country without employer’s permission (there were many instances where Sri Lankans were involved with stealing and running away) or an employer can cheat the employee by not paying salary, medical bills, air tickets etc. Through this law only they protect the rights of the parties and if one says it is against the welfare of the employee, he must be having a hidden agenda (like killing/robbing and escaping to Sri Lanka).
If you blindly say that the West, Austrlia, Hong Kong and Singapore etc have better facilities, one would simply reply that ‘then you better send your workers to those countries’ and that is not an ‘unfair’ answer, taking your ignorance into account. And, how many of those countries would issue thousands of visas for Sri Lankan workers everyday?
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Senguttuvan / April 16, 2013
Correction – Not falal but Kafala
Senguttuvan
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Fazlul / April 16, 2013
Sri Lanka is a very beautiful country with very beatiful people and beautiful place to live and with very pleasant Bhudhist monks like Ven Amila Thero and many more Ven Theros monks.
Now most of our readers and writers are deviating from the main issue.
First of all – all of us must understand that MUSLIMS in Sri Lanka are CITIZENS of this beautiful country but not Migrant workers.
Sri Lanka is not Saudi Arabi nor Sri lankan muslims are Arabs but they are either Sinhalese or Tamils.
Sri Lankan muslims are very peace loving people because their mothers
were peace loving Budhists – Sri Lanka is “Muslims mothers land and fathers home.”
Finally muslims have no where to go! since it is mothers land and fathers home! and muslims are half part of majority on mothers side.
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ahmad / April 16, 2013
DEAR ALL,
BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE DO QUESTION THE PRACTICES OF THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT AND OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES. BUT PLEASE BEAR IN MIND, THAT SAUDI IS NOT THE VATICAN OF ISLAM!
Saudi Arabia just happens to be the birth place of our prophet and the place all Muslims strive to journey atleast once in their life time to perform the Haj pilgrimage. We as Muslims don’t have the concept of ‘clergy’. We have the Imams of mosques and scholars/muftis/aalims/moulavis, but unlike the Church or the Buddhist Monestaries, these men and women are not venerated, but are simply respected for their profession just like in secular society we have a special regard for Doctors and Professors. Hence, we Muslims have no obligation or need what so ever to follow Saudi Arabia period. Our only guide is the Quran and Sunnah (the sayings of the prophet), which is the sole authority we follow. If I were to start picking on Saudi, I would start with questioning the Monarchy. Where in Islam is the monarchy supposed to be the legitimate rule in the Islamic model of governance?
THE POINT I AM TRYING TO MAKE WITH ALL THIS RAMBLING IS: TO HELL WITH SAUDI!! JUST THE SAME WAY AS I SAY TO HELL WITH BBS!! NEITHER ARE THE AUTHORITIES ON THE RELIGIONS THEY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH.
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Lester / April 17, 2013
You say Saudi Arabia is not relevant for Muslims, except for Mecca.
Do you accept that non-Muslims should be allowed to visit Mecca? If your answer is no, then there is no difference between your attitude and the attitude of Saudi Arabia. What sense does it make to ban a person from visiting a rock (probably a meteroid) in the 21st century?
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S. Ahamed / April 18, 2013
You are welcome to visit Makkah and Medina, but just say you believe in Allah and his messenger, before entering, just like you do saying that you believe in the Hindu God before entering Tirupathi. Many Sinhalese Buddhists visit Tirupathi after taking that oath. You may ask why you should be a Muslim to visit Makkah or be a Hindu to visit Tirupathi. But my question is if you are not a Muslim, what the hell are you going to do in Makkah, to pee on the stone?
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ahmad / April 18, 2013
Just watch CNN during Haj and you will see all the non-muslim journalists in Mecca. I don’t know what is their reason for not allowing non-muslims in, but I would suspect it would be logistical and security issues. Already, you find millions of people trying to squeeze into that tiny city which is elternally crowded. Be nice to Tariq Al Maeena and he might pull some strings and take you there :)
In the religion, there is no reason why non-muslims should not be allowed to visit Mecca as was the case during the time of the caliphate of Prophet Mohammed (and after), there were Jews, Christians and various other religions existing at the time who lived in Mecca.
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AYMAN / April 20, 2013
AHMAD
PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN MAKING COMMENTS.
YOU SAY-DURING THE CALIPHATE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD
CALIPHATE IS AFTER THE PROPHETS DEATH. ABU BAKR WAS CALIPH.
ALL JOURNALISTS AND COMMENTATORS DURING HAJ ARE MUSLIMS.
AFTER THE CONQUEST OF MAKKAH BY THE PROPHET,HE MADE A CLEAR
STATEMENT THAT THERE WILL BE NO RELIGION OTHER THAN ISLAM IN THE ARABIA.
NON-MUSLIMS ENTERING MAKKAH IS JUST NOT PERMITTED
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AYMAN / April 20, 2013
LESTER,
YOU HATE ISLAM, THE PROPHET AND EVERYTHING ABOUT ISLAM.
WHY WOULD A PERSON LIKE YOU WANT TO GO TO MECCA.
HERE ARE WHAT NON MUSLIMS HAVE TO SAY
– Lamartine, the French philosopher, writer, and politician said “Muhammad is The Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Warrior, and Conqueror of people’s wild desires. In all standards by which human greatness is measured, we may well ask: is there any man greater than Prophet Muhammad?”
– George Bernard Shaw, the English playwright said “The world much in need of a man like Muhammad’s bright thinking, such a man were to assume leadership and rule of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems and bring peace and happiness to it”
– Michael Hart said “My choice of Muhammad to be on the top the list of the “World’s most influential person in history” may come as a surprise to some people, but he is the only person in history who was supremely successful in both the religious and secular levels”
– Mahatma Ghandi, the great Indian leader said “After I finished reading the second part of the Biography of Muhammad, I felt the need to know more about this great personality, he uncontested, won the hearts of millions of people”
– Thomas Carlyle, the English writer, said “I like Muhammad for his free of Hypocrisy nature, with clear and sound words, he addressed the Roman Tsars and the Kings of Persia and he guided them to what he loves for them in this life and in the eternal life”
AT LEAST NOW STOP TALKING LIKE AN IDIOT.
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Lester / April 20, 2013
Here is what Bukhari has to say about your friend:
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 5.234 Narrated byAisha
The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down.
Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became all right, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, “Best wishes and Allah’s Blessing and a good luck.” Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage).
Unexpectedly Allah’s Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age.
Why did “Allah’s Apostle” come unexpectedly to take away nine year old girls from their families?
Do you believe it is okay for 33 year old men to sleep with 9 year old girls?
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imaana / April 26, 2013
Lester I would like you to go through the video clips below on the very subject. The culture and customs which were prevalent during those times, are very different from those of our time.
It was the normal practise at that time to marry at a very early age, not only in Arabia but also all over the world. During those times youngsters did not go to schools and universities and pursue all kinds of careers like us,nor did they go to work in the same manner as we do now. So, literally there was no reason whatsoever for young girls and boys to postpone marriage to a later age.
The subject matter that you have chosen is one which is dear to the hearts of the critics of Islam and Prophet Muhammad.The message of Islam was against all forms of evil,corruption, and oppression. Even the biggest enemies of the Prophet Muhammad who were hurling all kinds of abuses at him, never accused him of his marriage to Aisha. WHY? Because such a marriage was not an issue during those days. It was a very, very NORMAL PRACTISE at the time.
Another matter to ponder over is this. If Prophet Muhammad was the type of person his critics claim him to be, how come Aisha loved him so dearly and respected him so greatly. Her love and respect for him is well documented in the books of Islamic history. WILL ANY WOMAN IN HER RIGHT MIND LOVE AND RESPECT A MAN, IF HE WAS HER TORMENTOR?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM4IuDVFL3s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SfUKGp4iMg
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Diogenes / April 16, 2013
Nabil suggests that sri Lankan Buddhists should worship Moslems because many Sri Lankan women work in Arab countries as house maids and earn their living from their generous masters! This brute thinks that, driving iron nails into their body, rape, torture, murder, withholding payments etc are acts of generosity. These uncultured savages murdered one of their own underage girls Rizaana. How generous! Moreover he boasts gleefully that any Buddha statue taken to UAE would be dumped into a lavatory pit. This provocative uncultured effrontery of this wretched fanatic reveals his barbarism and burning hatred for the Buddha and the Buddhists. No wonder. Moslems from the very beginning were barbarian warmongers who murdered millions of humans through centuries to propagate their own religious views – to please Allah! Religious fanaticism – whether Buddhist, Christian or Moslem – has always been a challenge to peaceful living. Any religion that creates problems rather than solving any is utterly useless. It is better if there was no God at all. Man would be more safe and happy without Him. Personally I believe that God is the most harmful lie ever invented by man!
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Lester / April 17, 2013
Brilliant. Especially the last line. The God myth is the worst lie to plague humanity. The Western World has largely gotten over it; now the wars they fight are mostly economic. But we have still a group of people (Muslims) willing to die for this nonsense.
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AYMAN / April 30, 2013
1. Does God exist? The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.
Many examples showing God’s design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:
The Earth…its size is perfect. The Earth’s size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth’s surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter.3 Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.
existence of GodThe Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth’s position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.
And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.4
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sas / May 12, 2013
Then what about the greater number of planets without life? Why were they ‘created’?
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Nabil / April 18, 2013
Diogenes
If you are referring to “Nabil” with an organe Gavatar, it is a half mad Christian Tamil who thinks the true “Nabil” in Blue Gavatar is haranguing him and he thinks the best way to get back at me is make blatantly racist statements such the one you refer to and I quote from his last para to provoke responses such as yours.
We Muslims of Sri Lanka are thankful to you for voicing our plight to the Arab world through your good journalism/articles in the Arab News.
Well you seem to have swallowed his bait hook line and sinker. Can’t blame you.
Only consolation is he has brought out your true feelings about Muslims.
In reading, I ask CT to stop this so called Nabil in Yellow Gavatar from provoking readers
Thanks
Nabil
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Senguttuvan / April 16, 2013
Friend Ahmad,
The Catholic and Christian churches found their strength and validity
when good Catholics and Christians boldly questioned various areas that seemed to need change with the times. It was theologians like Martin Luther and thinkers like Calvin and Spinoza who lead the way. Reformers among the Hindus questioned the old system of Sati, the unquestioned privileges of the Brahmins, equality of worship in temples, many aspects of the caste system and so on. In today’s enlightened world all matters should be subject to intellectual scrutiny and peaceful discourse. I am pleased to note your comments.
Senguttuvan
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ahmad / April 17, 2013
Senguttuvan,
Your are perfectly right, we need to closely scruitinize all practices and beliefs before accepting them blindly. Within our religion there are many contentious issues which are heavily debated and even scholars differ in their opinions. One such debate in the relgion is the niqab (or face cover); which boils down to how scholars interpret or which hadith they consider of higher validity. Suicide bombings (especially those that are carried out in defence/desperation in places like palestine) is another, where in Islam suicide is strickly haram (forebiden).
What you need to note, we are not blindly following Saudi or are controled and manipulated by this mysterious Wahabi force. At the same time, don’t hold us or our religion accountable for the misdeeds of other Muslims or Muslim countries. Do we blame Christians for WWII, the crusades or the holocaust – I’m sure not. Finally, with all the scruitiny and debate, everyone needs to respect our basic human right to religous freedom (on this basis we can discuss anything), but today what is happening is increasingly the tone and message that is coming out by the likes of BBS is that we should be denied this basic right (which is a recipe for disaster).
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Lester / April 17, 2013
Do we blame Christians for WWII, the crusades or the holocaust
Christians had nothing to do with either WWII or the Holocaust. Hitler would have abolished Christianity, had he won the war.
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Alan / April 19, 2013
@ Lester
Hitler was a pure christian faith. because of Hitler we can not blame the christians in the world. He has killed an estimated around 6 million Jews, actually it was more than that. Who was the biggest terrorist in the history?
G.W.Bush one of the biggest terrorist who has done the 9/11 attack in the USA and put the blame on muslims. Iraq war, Afghanistan etc. He said iraq has Chemical weapons and started war. But so far until now they have not find any chemical weapons. They targeted the oil and killed the innocent muslims and they are continuing the war for several years against taliban..but still taliban exist. muslims are terrorist and they are bullshit…..and you are talking about non-sense.
I can’t understand what people are just blind or what???????
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AYMAN / April 30, 2013
Christian Zionism has its largest following among the Evangelical community in the US, where it is claimed that the concept has infiltrated the White House itself. It is rumoured that many in the current Bush administration, including Bush, subscribe to the concept. Although none within Bush’s inner circle have openly spoke of their support for the idea, it has been alleged that much of US foreign policy during Bush’s tenure has reflected a definite propensity towards Christian Zionism. Brian Klug, a senior research fellow and tutor in philosophy at Oxford University, claims that George W Bush is very much influenced by Christian Zionism. He said: “My impression is that Christian Zionists within the Bush administration have exercised a degree of influence on US foreign policy in the Middle East. George W Bush himself is drawn to Christian Zionism and I think the concept has reinforced his political direction.”
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Jayantha / April 17, 2013
I think all these BBS, Rawaya and Rawana are the victims of Rajapakse Brothers Political manipulation.
These blind, uneducated, with no direction in life and aimless yellow robe cheevarayas could be easily misguided by anybody and Rajapakses knowing this is using them to stay in power.
If anybody could get information on these Buddhist monks back ground, their families, their parents info and their economic standing,where their home towns are,what their education qualifications are etc, you could get a picture of their standing.
What does a seven year old know to select to be a Buddhist monk for life…….. Many could be joining for economic and free education reasons, and this many be the reason why many leave their robes after getting their free education with living and meals supplied.
This is what Rajapakses are doing similar to how VP used and mis guided tamil youth and JVP mis guided and used Sinhala youth bringing distruction upon their lives.
It is Rajapakses who created, nourished and used these brainless yellow robe youth, while using them for their benefit to stay in power by while destabilising the minority communities, similar to what JVP and VP did to Sinhala and Tamil youth.
Very soon either they will find their own distruction or will realise the Rajapakses cunning game and could start to take revenge from Rajapakses similar to what happened to SWRD Bandaranaike.
Crook Rajapakse family dynasty days are numbered.
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Senguttuvan / April 17, 2013
Blacker,
I see little role for your intervention here and less, as a confessed half-Tamil, for your unsolicited and misplaced pontification
Where, pray tell me, have I held the Lankan Muslims responsible for what happens in S. Arabia or anywhere else? Your query “Why must they ape the Arabs” appears to be shared by many here. But if the Muslims want to do that, that is their business.
Your unprovoked charge of “blatant racialism by the Tamils” is so shallow I will not validate it by a response. It is the Tamils who have suffered decades of racialism is now universally known, which you as a Writer, pretend not to know.
There are one or two germs in these pages obsessed with me and keep referring to me all the while. As I noted before, I have chosen to ignore them with the contempt it deserves. One flatters himself by claiming I use his name. The same dreg declared in these pages that he wants no further arguments with me and invoked his Almighty in support ??? But as they say, we have to live with all sort of grotesque semi-crazy two-leggeds in this planet, whether one likes it or not. Experience has taught me it is best to ignore them and get them frantic like that dog that barks at the moon. As Oscar Wilde says “Ignore your enemies. Nothing annoys them as much”
Senguttuvan
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Senguttuvan / April 19, 2013
I expected a hypocritical reply/ies to my plea for better conditions to our workers in the Middle East – that reader S. Ahmad provides us with in support of apey minussu – “In Saudi and many other countries, the domestic workers are treated as part of the household members..” I will allow the readers to make up their own minds about this outrageous untruth. Just to add a little something – I am not ready to buy Arabs send those of their own, working in their homes they call their own, in coffins with bodies punctured in nails or burnt in hot water. Surely, one does not fall back on statistics for succour, as you shockingly do, when you are dealing with dead bodies of your own coming in caravans of coffins.
Reading your piece it gives the feeling everything is tickety-boo for our workers and that there is little to worry in the paradise they work in. As to your suggestion I speak to Dilan Perera, my friend, that is the last chap one should speak to in these matters. The fellow was assuring the Lankan Nation Nafeeka will be saved by him – many hours after the little girl’s neck was cut in the most barbarous of ways. I am sorry uncharacteristically and purposely I deny salutations to these nondescripts who go as Ministers and the like. What the Vermin did to your fellow Muslim should be done to these dregs – where the ropes in which they are tied should not be removed.
Let me tell you and your ilk in this country who defend these unconscionable Arabs in their gross violation of our workers’ rights.
It is time Phillipines, Sri Lanka and other countries that provide labour to the Arabs, without which their economy and life styles will collapse, a Cartel should be formed where wages will rise at least by about 300%. The Muslim countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia
will, for the moment, not anger the unprincipled Arabs largely because their Ministers/officials are well taken care of. But the day is coming – soon.
My man, I regret your provocative comment “taking your ignorance into account” re. civilised facilities in the other countries I refer to.
I have lived in some of these countries and know they are not heartless
medieval savages. They are decent, mostly religious folk who believe “do not do unto another what you shall not do to yourself” That is why Muslims like Salman Rushdie feel safe living among them. Even those who are, in principle, agnostic in these countries have that sense of milk of human kindness in them, which is why our people – Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers and even Muslims prefer to go to these countries. I know you too. And I also know, in the culture you are steeped in it may be difficult to follow these humane manner of treating fellow humans.
Senguttuvan
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Senguttuvan / April 20, 2013
Friend Diogenes,
I have seen your earlier posts that add to the quality of civilised discussion in these pages. If you will forgive me, being one of a long religious inclination and coming from a peaceful religion, I find your comments on God troubling “It is better if there was no God at all. Man would be more safe and happy without Him. Personally I believe that God is the most harmful lie ever invented by man!..” While I concede your right not to believe in a God, I am convinced with the argument understanding the existence of God is something that confuses some. It sometimes is well beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals.
Leaving aside your own opinion and trenchant remarks (Apri 16 – 6.29 pm)on an undesirable defiling these pages, I am once again amused he flatters himself that I use his/other names. This is something which Editor/CT should be able to determine as he did recently when he warned another regular commentator not to come in different names. I trust he (CT) will do this to check this irresponsible commentator, who seems more bent on abuse and spreading hatred than objective debate. It is the leaders in the Muslim community that must step in and restrain this madman and type before he/they do/does further damage to innocents in the community. The comment Buddha statues should be dumped in lavatory pits can inflame passions particularly at a time like this when religious feelings are very high. I am afraid extreme radical Buddhist organisations such as BBS came into being on an anti-Muslim programme because of the dangerous writings and poison pen of such outrageous men/women. No Diogenes Lamp can cure such creatures easily.
Senguttuvan
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ashel / April 25, 2013
follow your own religion properly!!!Sri lanka number 1 in sex is it muslims?no ranks top in alcoholism,is it muslims?NO
mulim women cover their body others westernized.will u allow your daugther to show her private parts in public,will u let your son to be a drunkard
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ziakhan / June 17, 2015
The people believe all the religion have some mercy and pity
But the world people behold the burma Buddhism religion terror monk to killed a thousands childrens, babys un matured girls and boys through burned and cutlery with deferent cruel and ruthless
We see first time cruel religion to killed the little baby children and little un mature girl and boy with cruel and deferent ruthless
The religion of Buddhism of Burma monk show really cruel darkness image to world himself religion
The all religion have mercy and pity for humanity
But the religion of Buddhism of Burma monk crass the all cruel in Burma
And the religion of Buddhism of burma made record to show the Buddhism religion injustice to world himself religion
The religion Buddhism of Burma is not so justice as the irreligion people is.
And the religion of Buddhism of Burma destroy the humanity the Buddhism monks
The Buddhism of Burma monks destroy peace of the world
The Buddhism terror died little baby, children un mature little boys and girls and men and women but with different cruel and give trouble to Muslim people in Burma
The Muslim people going to sailed. and the Burma Muslim people with children have no destination in middle in sea
*(The Buddhism people of Burma have no humanity and no justice
Or the Buddhism religion have no humanity and no justice)*
(Awake the world peoples stand against Buddhists terror in Burma. please awake to save the life of little babis and children. and. poor Muslim people)
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