No Islamist jihadi groups in Sri Lanka
There are no Islamist jihadist groups in Sri Lanka, said a study commissioned by the Colombo-based International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES).
The study had gone into an accusation, made both from within and outside the Muslim community in recent years, that a “jihadist” movement was being formed in the Eastern province, where Muslims constitute around 37 per cent the population. Muslims account for 9.67 per cent of the country’s population, according to the 2012 census,
Discussion with representatives of Thablighi Jamaat, Thawheed and Sufi groups revealed that “while there is [a] talk among discontented youth about espousing ‘jihadi’ practices, these are just idle youth responding to the global trend in Islam, but with no motivation or the means to make this a reality. Local organisations such as mosque federations are also keeping tabs on the community and nipping such ideas in the bud,” said the study.
Quoting Tamil writer and intellectual M.A. Nuhman, the study refers to two reformist movements — Jamaat-e-Islami and Thabligh-i-Jamaat, both of which arrived in Sri Lanka during the 1950s.
While focusing on “purifying Islamic practices,” they had faced several conflicts with traditional Sufi groups.
“However, the emergence of Saudi-based movements in Sri Lanka such as the Thawheed Jamaat has transformed the conflict into Wahabism [Thawheed] versus Sufism,” the study said.
(The Hindu)
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Well, it is encouraging to hear that no Jehadi group come under ICES microscope. Following the revelation that a 37-year-old Sri Lankan Muslim had been killed in Syria while fighting for the Islamic State in July 2015, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, a Muslim association in Sri Lanka, assured that 10 Muslim organizations have reached an agreement not to allow such incidents to happen. My question is how this 37 year old Muslim came to existence? Just emerged from Sri Lanka like a mushroom?
just because there is one rotten apple in a basket means the entire basket is rotten after all Muslims have been in this country long before the Portuguese came here Muslims came for trade not to terrorize Muslims helped defend the country specially the hill country so please do not label Sri Lankan Muslims as ISIS Jihad or any other terrorist organization. and one more point Mr.Amarakoon remember Be it ISIS or any other terrorist if one is a terrorist and kills innocent people he is not a Muslim and does not qualify to be called a Muslim as Islam clearly states no terrorism if one kills a innocent man it as he has killed an entire community such great sin it is
Mr, Concern please do not jump into conclusions. Did I ever state all Muslims are terrorists? Well the logic goes like this; all mothers are women but all women are not mothers! You talk about rotten apples yes; one rotten apple does not mean the entire basket is rotten. Having said that, if you keep that rotten apple in the basket all apples get rotten.