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Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemn Sri Lanka’s proposed burqa ban

Responding to Sri Lanka proposed burqa ban and close over a thousand madrassas (Islamic schools), both the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have condemned these recent moves.

"OIC-IPHRC condemns Sri Lankan Ministers' statement to ban burqas and madrassas being violative of Art. 18 & 27 of ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) which guarantees minorities the right to freely profess, practice and manifest their religion,” a joint statement released on Tuesday read.

The IPHRC further urged the Sri Lankan government to “publicly denounce such discriminatory and Islamophobic statements and desist from any measures against law-abiding Muslims which negate the spirit of pluralism and contravene international human rights law.”

 

Sri Lanka’s response

Speaking on the policy, Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister, Sarath Weerasekara, claimed that the burqa ban “had a direct impact on national security” and described it as a “sign of religious extremism”. He assured Sri Lankans that the government would “definitely ban it”.

However, Foreign Secretary, Jayanath Colombage gave a more measured response after facing widespread criticism claiming, “it is merely a proposal, which is under discussion”. Despite this, he supported Weerasekara’s claim, describe the moves as “precautionary measures that are needed on national security grounds”.

 

International responses

Responding to the call for  a ban on the burqa, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, Ahmed Shaheed, tweeted: 

"Burka bans are incompatible with international law guarantees of the right to manifest one's religion or belief and of freedom of expression!”

Similarly, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Saad Khattak condemned Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara’s recent plans to ban the burqa stating that it will offend Muslims around the world and will exacerbate divisions amongst communities on the island.

Read more here and here.

 

 

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