By Latheef Farook

By Latheef Farook

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கடந்த இரண்டாம் திகதி முதன் முறையாக முஸ்லிம் அமைப்புக்கள் தமது வேற்றுமைகளை மறந்து, இடைக் கால ஆலோசனை 3சபையொன்றை அமைப்பதற்கான அறிவித்தலை விடுப்பதற்காக வெள்ளவத்தை மியாமி வரவேற்பு மண்டபத்தில் சந்தித்துக் கொண்டன. முஸ்லிம் சமூகம் எதிர்நோக்கி வருகின்ற பிரதான சவால்களை எதிர் கொள்வதோடு, தேசத்தைக் கட்டியெழுப்புவதில் காத்திரமானதொரு பாத்திரத்தை வகிப்பதும் இச்சபையின் நோக்கமாகும்.

By Latheef Farook

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by Latheef Farook

For the first time almost all Muslim religious, social and cultural organisations and groups, buried their differences, and met in one platform under one roof at Wellawatta Miami Reception Hall on Thursday 2 May 2013 to announce the formation of an Interim Consultative (Shoora) Council-ICC.

The main purpose of ICC is to meet the emerging challenges and deal with burning issues facing the community besides seeking to play a role in nation building.

The need for such a body has been felt for sometimes in view of the continuous moral decadence of Muslim politicians who had become community’s shameful liability. Even the others failed to rise up to the occasion to protect the interest of the community.

By Latheef Farook

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By Latheef Farook

Hundreds of articles have been written in all three languages during the past few months analysing from every possible angle the United States sponsored United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution against Sri Lanka on alleged human rights violations during the final days of the government’s war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam-LTTE.

However there was hardly an article dealing with the role played by Muslim countries in supporting Sri

Lanka. Most of these countries are actually American allies. This happened last year too when the resolution calling on Sri Lanka to investigate alleged human rights violations was passed by 24 votes to 15 with 8 abstentions.

By Latheef Farook

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“Will it be the climax of a revolution, or will it tear the country asunder?”

Egypt is an ancient country with a recorded history of more than 7,000 years. Known for its pyramids and the River Nile this Mediterranean country linking the Middle East and Africa with Europe was the centre of a flourishing civilization, while most of the world, including the West, was steeped in darkness.

However, with the rise of European imperial powers and their manipulations, Egypt suffered a great deal, especially since the 15th century. Though an ancient country, Egypt had its first ever free and fair elections last month, to elect a president who would rule for the next four years.

The question is whether the forces which rule the world, such as the United States, Europe, pro Zionists Jews who control the US and Europe, Israel and their Arab stooges installed in power in the Middle East together with the Egyptian armed forces, will ever allow democracy to survive, leave alone flourish.

Egypt is often referred to in Arabic as Ummuth Duniya, ‘Mother of the Earth’ and the Egyptians known for their humour and easy going lifestyle proudly claim that “Anyone who tastes Nile water always returns to drink this water.”

By Latheef Farook

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Symbol of Muslims’ rights and dignity

By Latheef Farook

It is almost a month and half since a mob brought in from outside the area, led by a Buddhist monk, and vandalized Dambulla Khairiya Jumma Mosque on Friday 20 April 2012 in violation of all laws of the country and all known human decency.

The beleaguered Muslims await justice while the mob remains free backed by some undisclosed Buddhist Organizations.

The island is passing through one of its most difficult times in the independent history. There are numerous burning issues, both local and international, to be dealt with. The West in general has been very hostile since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May 29. On the other hand this is the time after 30 years of ethnic killings every effort needs to be made to bring communities together to move the country ahead.

By Latheef Farook

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Bound to aggravate communal tension?

By Latheef Farook

“Israel’s foreign policy is that the national interest of Israel is the ultimate test and that the Israelis pursue this with cold blooded calculation” - late eminent journalist Mervyn De Silva.

The Zionist Jewish entity of Israel which has been sneaking into Sri Lanka time and again only to have been expelled, found a firm foothold in Colombo now. The island’s growing ties with Israel have become cause for serious concern among many especially within the beleaguered Muslim community which fears that this may spell disaster for them.

This fear emanates from Israel’s long record of hostility towards Muslims and its crucial role in the United States led western global campaign against Muslims under the guise of fighting a so called war on terrorism. It becomes still worse because a small minority of nationalists who, openly call for the expulsion of Tamils and Muslims from the island, are now in influential positions while Muslims parliamentarian remain subdued and ineffective.

By Latheef Farook

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To mainstream Sinhalese; Save the Sinhalese and the country from chauvinists.

To Muslim politicians and theologians; Don’t sell the community. You are under watch.

Muslims’ peaceful response to Dambulla Mosque vandalism

Best hope for the country battered by ethnic conflict

By Latheef Farook

Muslim community’s overall response to vandalism at the Dambulla mosque by a mob led by Ven Inamaluwa Sumangala Thero on Friday 20 April 2012 has been “calm and dignified”. In one voice their message to the mainstream peace loving Sinhalese was “restore communal harmony”.

As a mark of protest, Muslims closed their shops throughout the east, Puttalam and other places on 26 Thursday and 27 Friday April 2012.They demonstrated after Friday Juma prayers not to resort to violence, instead to insist on communal harmony. The entire community prayed individually at homes and collectively at masjids while men and women throughout the island observed fasting.

By Latheef Farook

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Attack on Dambulla Mosque

By Latheef Farook

The   attack to demolish the Dambulla Khairiya Jumah Masjd Friday 20 April 2012 is not the “beginning” as stated by the pro government Buddhist monk who led the mob to attack the mosque in an act of sheer lawlessness.

This unfortunate incident in fact is the latest in the series of provocations unleashed to set the Muslims, who pose no threat or nuisance to anyone, against Sinhalese. Most Sinhalese, especially those in the Dambulla area, distanced themselves from this vandalism stating that “we are living in peace with Muslims and this was done by people brought from outside”.

By Latheef Farook

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Why raise this explosive issue now?

By Latheef Farook

Prime Minister D.M. Dayaratne’s order to demolish a 65 year old mosque in Dambulla and instead build a mosque in another place strikes at the very root of religious freedom .It also shocked and hurt the island’s Muslim community. Responding to the order and expressing the community’s mood Muslim Congress Secretary and parliamentarian Hassen Ali said the “community will not accept a mosque in another place even if it was built of gold”.

By Latheef Farook

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By Latheef Farook 

In times of crisis in Sri Lanka, Muslims countries have always come to the island’s rescue   with no strings attached. This friendly gesture was demonstrated once again by Muslim countries   when they voted against the US sponsored United Nations Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka.

While the European countries as a whole sided with the US, almost every Muslim country either supported Sri Lankan or abstained. For example Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bangladesh Maldives, Mauritania and Indonesia   voted against the resolution defying the US. Four more Muslim countries, Malaysia Jordan, Kyrgyzstan and predominantly Muslim Senegal abstained thus depriving the US of large majority.

Surprisingly our new found friend the Zionist state of Israel co-sponsored the US resolution.