Peaceful coexistence more important than Halal-ACJU

THURSDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2013

The All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama (ACJU) told the media today that peaceful co-existence in the country was more important than the ‘Halal’ certificate, and it would agree to recommendations made by the parliament subcommittee appointed to look into the issue.

 “We have taken a stand internally regarding the issue and will cooperate with the parliament sub-committee and the cabinet and work according to their recommendations. Peaceful co-existence is more important that the Halal certification and we will do our utmost to protect it,” Consultant ShaikhFazilFarook said.
ACJU Halal division secretaryMoulaviMurshidMulafer said they had repeatedly provided the entire fee structure to the public to erase “existing confusion and misunderstanding” regarding the issue.

 “The fee structure is very clear, and in business parlance it’s ‘peanuts’ for businesses. Any company that requires the Halal certificate for five or less products is charged Rs. 700, while any company that requires the certificate for ten or less is only charged between Rs. 1000 to 1500,” the Moulavi said while providing the media with a fee structure for the certificate.

The ACJU while reiterating that it was an organization established in 1924 said the only aim of its existence was to promote peaceful and religious living among Muslims.

Speaking further MoulaviMulafer reiterated that the entire Halal certification process was transparent and was open for investigation upon request.

“All our accounts have even been submitted to the National Investigation Bureau. This is an entirely transparent process. There has not been one company that has spoken against this process because we have conducted ourselves in a fully transparent manner. Halal is a basic necessity of Muslims and it is a human right to be able to practise tenets of a person’s religion” MoulaviMulafer said.

Meanwhile ShaikhFazilFarook answering a question posed by a journalist said the clerics were not given adequate opportunity to address the issues raised by many groups.

 “We were not given the chance to convey our message properly and due to this many people are confused and disturbed by the issue. We want to live peacefully in this country because we are Sri Lankans first and foremost and that can never be changed” he said.

Sri Lanka Muslims try to defuse halal meat row

Thursday, 21 February 2013 

COLOMBO — Islamic clerics in Sri Lanka tried to calm religious tensions Thursday by telling stores to sell halal meat only to Muslims, after protests by hardliners from the nation's Buddhist majority.

Food manufacturers have long labeled all their products "halal" for convenience, meaning until now non-Muslims have not had any choice in the matter.

Some Buddhists argue they should not be forced to consume food that is prepared according to Islamic religious rites. They say the halal certificate represents the "undue influence" of Muslims and is an "affront" to non-Muslims.

Muslim clerics said a boycott of halal products organized by the hardline Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Force, had created tensions that could erupt into full-blown violence in a country still recovering from decades of ethnic war.

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, Sri Lanka's main body of Islamic clergy which issues the halal certificates, asked retailers to ensure that certified products were offered only to Muslims.

"We want to promote peaceful co-existence and harmony," ACJU president Mufti Rizwe told reporters in Colombo, as the organization called for stores to have separate shelves offering halal and non-halal food.

The clerics' move to defuse tensions came after thousands of nationalist Buddhists staged a rally last weekend to demand that all shops in the country clear their stocks of halal food by April.

Nationalist Buddhist monks and their supporters also launched a campaign to boycott halal-slaughtered meat as well as other products that carry a halal certificate.

The halal method of killing an animal requires its throat to be slit and the blood to be drained.

President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is a Buddhist, urged monks not to incite religious hatred and violence, amid reports of a wave of attacks and intimidation targeting Muslim businesses.

The Buddhist Force has distanced itself from the violence, saying there are "duplicate groups" pretending to be itself and stirring up trouble. — AFP