By Easwaran Rutnam The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which has been focusing its attention on alleged human rights abuses committed against the Tamils during and after the war, will take note of the harassment of Muslims in Sri Lanka following the Easter Sunday attacks. While Sri Lanka is not on the agenda, the Easter Sunday attacks and incidents which followed will be discussed at the 41st session of the Human Rights Council later this month. The 41st session of the Human Rights Council will take place from 24 June to 12 July in Geneva. The Sunday Morning learnt that some Muslim countries and some Western nations will raise their concerns over the harassment of Muslims in Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is likely to condemn the Easter Sunday attacks during her opening speech at the session, officials said. Multiple countries are expected to raise their concerns over the harassment of Muslims in Sri Lanka when human rights situations that require the Council’s attention are taken up for discussion. The concerns are also expected to be raised when the UNHRC considers the report of the Secretary General on the prevention of genocide. NGOs are also expected to raise the issue during the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Jaffna/Kilinochchi Muslim Federation President Al Haj A.H. Jamal Mohideen told The Sunday Morning that Muslims in Jaffna and other parts of the country continue to be harassed. He urged the UNHRC to take note of some of the incidents taking place targeting the Muslim community and push the Government to take steps to protect the Muslims. Mohideen said in Jaffna, some Muslim women were harassed when they wore the hijab though it is not banned. He also said that some Muslims have complained that they are facing issues at the hands of businessmen who are refusing to purchase items from them. “Muslims in Jaffna and other parts of the country are not being allowed to live a normal life,” he said. The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) also confirmed that Muslims continued to be harassed in the country, following the Easter Sunday attacks. Resolving issues locally However, ACJU President Mufti M.I.M. Rizvi told The Sunday Morning that it may be better if the issues were resolved within Sri Lanka. “We would prefer to first discuss these issues with the parties concerned and try to resolve these in the country,” he said. Rizvi said if the harassment continues, the ACJU would discuss the next step to be taken with the members of the Executive Committee and the Muslim parliamentarians. Former Minister Kabir Hashim raised concerns over some elements attempting to use the issue for political gain. He said the main reason why he resigned from his post was to ensure a free and fair investigation of the Easter Sunday attacks. Soon after the violence broke out in parts of the country targeting Muslims, UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng and UN Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect Karen Smith issued a joint a statement on the attacks against religious minorities in Sri Lanka. In the joint statement, they stated they were alarmed about the growing acts of violence on the basis of religion, including attacks against homes, places of worship, and businesses, in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. They also encouraged the Government to make sure that these and similar attacks in the past are fully investigated and those responsible for instigating or committing these violent acts are brought to justice and made accountable. They added that the Government needed to give the example that it would not tolerate the spread of prejudice and hate among groups within its population. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also raised concerns over the attacks on Muslims; they had called on the authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure the safety and security of the Muslim community in the country and combat the rising tide of violence, extremism, and hate speech which is spreading fear and mistrust among the communities. Just last week, the Delegation of the European Union (EU), in a joint statement, said that they were also deeply concerned by political and religious pressure being directed at Sri Lanka’s Muslim community which is undermining peace and reconciliation in the country. The EU said that prejudiced and unsubstantiated allegations repeatedly published by media serve only to fuel intolerance. The joint statement was issued in agreement with the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, and the UK High Commission as well as the embassies of Norway and Switzerland. The EU urged the President, Prime Minister, and all political leaders to reassert the State’s commitment to mutual respect, tolerance, and equal treatment under the law for all, irrespective of faith or ethnicity. Tamil issue on the table Meanwhile, Tamil Diaspora groups and others will look to keep the Tamil concerns alive by raising some of the issues at the upcoming Geneva session. The issues will be raised during the time allocated for NGOs to speak or deliver statements at the session.