Sri Lankan Muslims’ indifference towards Israel’s

Violent attacks at Masjid Al Aqsa.

By Latheef Farook

Sri Lankan Muslims’ callous indifference towards Israeli attacks on Palestinians at prayer at Masjid Al Aqsa speaks volume for the community’s political and religious bankruptcy.

On Tuesday 4 April 2023 and on the following day Israeli police entered the Al Aqsa Mosque, unleashed their traditional barbarity on Palestinians at prayer and driven them out. The whole world was shocked drawing swift condemnation from world leaders, Muslims all over, General UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Arab tyrants. European Union refused to condemn but was “deeply concerned”.

However there was eerie silence and indifference on the part of the Sri Lankan Muslims. Neither the controversial one man show Jamiathul Ulma, half a dozen so called Muslim congress parties nor the numerous civil society organizations thought it fit to condemn attacks on Masjid Al Aqsa.

Two days later on Friday April 7 we all expected Mosques all over Sri Lanka to take up this topic and explain the serious threat   to Masjid Al Aqsa as Israel plans to destroy it and build in its place Solomon’s (Prophet Suleiman’s) Temple. Instead Jamiathul Ulema which used Juma sermon to urge people to respect ulemas the day after its highly politicized anniversary at BMICH ignored this burning issue.

One cannot expect the Sri Lankan government to condemn this barbarity in view of its dependency on United States which blindly supports Israel.

Isn’t it time the sleeping and sinking Muslim civil society wake up to its responsibilities especially when global anti-Muslim forces are intensifying their campaign and the island is passing through its worst political and economic crisis?