New administration must commit to ending discrimination' says Amnesty International
Sri Lanka's newly led government must commit itself to respecting human rights and ending discrimination, said Amnesty International's Deputy Asia Pacific Director in an interview to the Sunday Leader this week.
Speaking to the Sunday Leader David Griffiths said there was “no doubt discrimination and violence against religious minorities is a serious and growing problem in Sri Lanka.”
“Political leaders have exploited or manufactured religious tensions, and Buddhist hardline nationalist organisations have led or incited protests and attacks against religious minorities, including their places of worship and businesses, which typically go uninvestigated and unpunished,” continued Griffiths.
“Hundreds of incidents of threats, harassment and violence against Muslims, Christians and their places of worship have been documented since the violence escalated in 2013 – although of course it was not new. The new administration must commit to ending discrimination, denounce any attacks, and crucially ensure that perpetrators are punished to end the pattern of violence”.
Speaking to the Sunday Leader David Griffiths said there was “no doubt discrimination and violence against religious minorities is a serious and growing problem in Sri Lanka.”
“Political leaders have exploited or manufactured religious tensions, and Buddhist hardline nationalist organisations have led or incited protests and attacks against religious minorities, including their places of worship and businesses, which typically go uninvestigated and unpunished,” continued Griffiths.
“Hundreds of incidents of threats, harassment and violence against Muslims, Christians and their places of worship have been documented since the violence escalated in 2013 – although of course it was not new. The new administration must commit to ending discrimination, denounce any attacks, and crucially ensure that perpetrators are punished to end the pattern of violence”.
