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Muslims condemn demolition of structures at Dafthar Jailani in Balangoda

02 Mar 2022

Several Muslim organisations in a joint statement issued today (03) condemned the recent demolition of some of the structures within the precincts of the Mosque and Shrine of Dafthar Jailani in Balangoda. “We strongly condemn the wanton destruction of parts of a centuries' old mosque and shrine, and we are deeply dismayed by the inactivity of the government in this regard,” the statement noted. It further detailed that the significance of Dafthar Jailani to the Muslims dates back over 8 centuries and it has been a site of cultural heritage for Muslims for centuries. It derives its name from As-Seyed Muhiyadeen Abdul Qadir Jailani, a 12th century Sufi Saint and the founder of the Qadiri Sufi order. British archaeologist C.H. Collins, who visited the site in the early 1930s as part of the colonial exploration of Sri Lanka's archaeological heritage, had noted that it was "a great place of Muslim pilgrimage" at the time in his report published in 1932. The statement expressed distress over the fact that the ornamental gateway with chiselled stone steps as well as the main flagpole at Dafthar Jailani have been demolished while a new Buddhist Stupa has been constructed on part of the site, despite it being designated as a protected heritage site under the authority of the Department of Archaeology. “The willful destruction of such a significant Muslim Heritage site will not auger well for communal harmony, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, but on the contrary, fuel hatred and communal unrest and divisions in the future,” the statement warns. It was pointed out that such actions will bring disrepute to our country in the eyes of the international community, especially the Muslim countries who stood by Sri Lanka at international fora.  “Ironically the demolition coincides with the 49th Session of UNHRC meeting in Geneva from 28th February to 1st of April 2022,” it notes. Concerns were also expressed over the attacks on community identities, religious places of worship and properties in the past, perpetrators of which are yet to be held accountable despite widespread evidence pointing to, from whom and where such hatred had been incited from. “We urge the government to always uphold law & order in a nondiscriminatory manner and end this impunity, This desecration of a Muslim heritage site comes in the backdrop of a reassurance given by Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris to envoys of Muslim countries, in the presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, on November 30th 2021 regarding respecting the religious and cultural rights of all communities in the country. We therefore urge the government to take steps to restore the Muslim Heritage site at Dafthar Jailani, ensuring the protection of the religious and cultural rights of the Muslim Community who have lived in peace with other communities in this country for centuries,” the statement concludes. The organisations who issued the joint statement are as follows: ALL CEYLON JAMIYYATHUL ULAMA CACJU) 2. ALL CEYLON UNION OF MUSLIM LEAGUE YOUTH FRONTS (ACUMLYF] | 3. ALL CEYLON YIMA CONFERENCE (ACYMMAC) | 4. AL MUSLIMAATH | 5. ANJUMAN E SAIFI (SRI LANKA) TRUST | 6. ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIN WOMEN PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS (AMMPE) | 7. ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM YOUTH OF SAILAN (AMYS) | 8. CENTER FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES - HARMONY CENTRE (CIS - HC] | 9. CONFERENCE OF SAI LARKA MALAY ASSOCIATION (COSLMA) 10. COLOMBO DISTRICT MASJID FEDERATION (COMF) | 11. KANDY DISTRICT MASJID FEDERATION (KD/AF) | 12. MARKEZ ISLAMIC CENTER (MIC) | 13. MEMON ASSOCIATION OF SRI LANKA (MASL) | 14. MOORS ISLAMIC CULTURAL HOME (MICH) | 15. MUSLIM COUNCIL OF SRI LANKA (MCSL) | 16. MUSLIM LADIES STUDY CIRCLE (MLSC) | 17. NATIONAL MUSLIM ASSEMBLY (NMA)| 18. NATIONAL SHOORA COUNCIL (NSC) | 19. RPSL CONSORTIUM | 20. SRI LANKA JAMATHE ISLAMI (SLID) I 21. SRI LANKA KATHEEB & MUAZZIN WELFARE ORGANIZATION (SLKMND) | 22. SRI LANKA MUSLIN CIVIL SOCIETY (SLICS) | 23. SRI LANKA MUSLIM MEDIA FORUM (SLMIF) | 24. SRI LANKA MUSLIM WOMEN'S CONFERENCE (SLMIC) | 25. SRI LANKA SHARIA COUNCIL (SLSC) | 26. ZAM ZAM FOUNDATION (ZZF)


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