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| Photograph:Tamil Guardian |
Sri Lanka’s government must create “open space” for reconciliation said the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief on Thursday.
“Freedom from fear is the most elementary part in allowing for freedom for religion and expression in a situation like Sri Lanka, said Heiner Bielefeldt.
Communal violence in a climate of impunity occurs in Sri Lanka in the name of Buddhism, as Buddhists seem to have an unjustified fear leading to hate speech the rapporteur added.
Speaking at an event on religious freedom in post-conflict Sri Lanka, hosted by the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), Rapporteur Heiner Bielefeldt, said,
“If religion is turned into a nationalist ideology, the ‘minorities’ suffer first and ten critical voices of the major religion will suffer after.”
Expressing disappointment at the former High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report after visit to Sri Lanka, Mr Bielefeldt said,
“The previous government had not done enough to address reconciliation.”
“International pressure will definitely play a role,” he added.