Every Muslim minister in Sri Lanka resigns following crackdown

Rauff Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress announcing to the media the decision by all Muslim ministers to stand down
Rauff Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress announcing to the media the decision by all Muslim ministers to stand down Credit: STR/EPA-EFE/RE

All Muslim ministers in Sri Lanka resigned on Monday evening calling on the government to end the “hate culture” that has developed in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks claimed by Islamic State group last month.

Ten ministers, including four powerful cabinet ministers, five state ministers and one deputy minister, announced their resignation.

“Innocent people should not be punished. Innocent Muslims are now victims,” said Rauff Hakeem, minister of higher education, referring to the hundreds of arrests made daily under the emergency laws that give sweeping powers to the police to arrest and detain civilians without a warrant.

“We have suffered immensely. We have suffered severe harassment. There are several who are languishing in remands for minor trivial issues,” said Mr Hakeem, addressing a media briefing after several hours of discussion with the prime minister.

The government and military have come under fire by rights activists for unfair arrests over the past five weeks.

Tensions were high on Monday in several parts of the country as extremist Buddhist monks warned of "severe repercussions" if three men, the minister of trade and commerce, and two Muslim governors did not resign.

A prominent monk started a “fast to death” campaign demanding the removal of the three Muslim politicians, claiming they had connections with the terrorists who were responsible for last month's attacks that killed 248 people and left over 500 injured.

While the Muslim politicians have denied the claims, Mr Hakeem told the media that the ministers collectively tendered their resignations so that the authorities can investigate any of them “thoroughly and expeditiously”.

The Muslim ministers gave the government one month to expedite all inquiries, calling an end to “hate culture”.

“We will continue to serve the government as backbenchers... until we will feel confident to serve again - once the hate culture and culture of impunity is removed from our country,” said Mr Hakeem.

Thousands of people took to the streets in several parts of the country on Monday in support of the fast to death campaign with businesses and banks closing at noon.

Despite public rallies and hate speech being prohibited under emergency laws, no arrests were made.

Another extremist monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, who was released  from prison on a presidential pardon a week after an anti Muslim riots in which over a thousand Muslim homes were destroyed and burnt said he was “active once more... Nirvana can wait.”

“There is a hidden political agenda behind all this,” MHM Haleem, minister of Muslim Affairs, who also resigned, told The Telegraph. “Besides where is the democracy? Tomorrow they can ask the prime minister to resign, and the day after the president... this hate propaganda is unhealthy for our entire nation.” ends

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