In a letter to the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan Muslim Council (SLMC) called for the anti-Muslim attacks by Buddhist groups to end.
A letter signed by the President of the Muslim Council N.M. Ameen said:
“Their campaign has also affected all businesses – not just Muslims’ – and resulted in a threat to the maintenance of law and order affecting all communities. These groups have been using the traditional media, social media, public meetings, posters, leaflets, and the circulation of rumours and misinformation insulting Muslims to inculcate a sense of fear and hatred of Muslims among Sinhalese. They are using abusive language when referring to our religious practices and publicly calling for a boycott of businesses run by Muslims,”
“Sections of our community hold these practices to be very important, and we strongly reject the criticisms that have been directed against them and charges of extremism leveled against them. The Muslim community, like all other communities in the country, consists of diverse groups, many of whom do not prescribe to some of the above dress practices, and may not even agree with them. However, we consider it to be the right of all Muslims to choose to practice their religion as they see fit,”
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