To Vote Or Not To Vote
By M H M Faizer –August 13, 2015
M H M Faizer
As a born and practicing Muslim I am inclined not to vote for Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR). MR was quite insensitive for issues faced by the Muslims in Sri Lanka. He maintained a deafening silence when all things were going wrong for the minority Muslims in the country. His brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was quite open in saying that there is Muslim terrorism in Sri Lanka. MR was witnessing the development and growth of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS). BBS was going out in all directions to attack the Muslims. They were inculcating into the minds of ordinary Buddhists that the Muslims are fast becoming a threat to the Buddhists and Buddhism and that they are in touch with the Muslim terrorist organizations worldwide. The political leadership also was endorsing this view of the BBS by not acting against their violent speeches and actions.
I agree that a majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka have become EXTREMISTS but certainly not TERRORISTS! They have become extremists in terms of practicing their religion. They want to become extremely pious. Islam after Prophet Muhammad is now almost 1450 years old.Over this period the practice of original Islam have diminished mainly due to whole lot of rituals being added! In the last forty years or so there is a revival of the original practices of Islam. Thanks to technology and other forms of communication there emerged a large number of Scholars who clearly communicated the original practices of Islam. The correct understanding of its principles in terms of social life,business practices and spiritual beliefs were imparted. Thus, emergence of Sharia banking ( though interest dealings are a taboo, the Islamic countries freely practiced them without correct knowledge), the Purdhah and Hijab for women, the details of Haram and Halaal food are some examples of them. So Muslims started following these original practices once again.In other words they were trying to become Extremely religious – whats wrong with it? In fact it is good for the society. When a community becomes religious they become more and more passive. Despite the killings and burnings at the Aluthgama incident, the Muslims did not retaliate.They also did not respond to all the Hate speeches of the BBS! Why? One contributing reason is their strong and extreme faith in Islam which strongly advocate Patience and to seek assistance from God Almighty!