Paying A ‘Price’ To Be A Moor In Sri Lanka?
Dr.Imtiyaz Razak
Many of those observing the happenings in Sri Lanka, both here and abroad, thought that post-war Sri Lanka will breed peace and harmony at all levels among all ethnic and religious groups. However, recent development against Moors [also known as Muslims] shattered the hope that Sri Lanka will be paradise for peace.
Political science studies on post-war conditions suggest different reasons as to why peace is harder to gain in post war societies where there are competing identities seeking domination, hegemony and power. One of such interesting theories deals with fear psychology of a dominant group. In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala-Buddhists, who form the majority, are driven to action because they are influenced by their fears toward Tamils and Moors who claim distinct identities and history.
Moors of Sri Lanka, though they don’t make a claim for a homeland as Tamils do, are a very significant minority with sophisticated connections to Muslim majority societies. Moors in Sri Lanka, during the conflict with the Tamils, actively supported the successive regimes in order to win their interests. The results were socio-religious as well as political concessions from the states such as exclusive schools for Moors, school break during Ramadan, establishments of Madrasas and less restrictions over the flow of financial contributions from the Middle East to local Islamic institutions. There was no opposition from Sinhala extremists to what Moors have been enjoying for a while during what is dubbed as Sinhala-Tamil conflict period. However, anti-Moors activities by Sinhala-extremists had surprised many Moors who thought they would be able to enjoy the same concessions in the post-war period. Since then much has been said and written about the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) with regard to their attack and violence on Moors and their symbols such as mosques.
Unlike Tamils of Sri Lanka, Moors of Sri Lanka did not demand a separate state, but actively opposed such agendas promoted by a group like Tamil Tigers. The rebels aggressively punished the Moors by carrying out killings at Mosques while devotees were praying in Kattankudy and expelling Moors from the North and certain parts of the East. The price Moors from the North and East had paid for their opposition to ‘The Eelam Dream’ was huge. So, they had reasons to expect peace after the collapse of the Tamil Tigers. However, the BBS’ aggressive activities haven’t boosted the confidence of Moors.Read More
