Muslims in Post-War Sri Lanka: An Opportunity Lost for Conflict Transformation

Authors

  • Mohamed Imtiyaz Abdul Razak Temple University, Department of Political Science, Philadelphia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v4i7.769

Keywords:

Wahhabism/Sufism, masjid, monk, Islamophobia, Halal, identity, conflict.

Abstract

This paper examines the post-war Sri Lankan conditions among Sri Lanka Muslims, also known as Moors. The article will attempt to argue that state concessions to Muslim political leaders who supported the successive Sri Lanka’s ruling classes from independence through the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, have meant an isolation of the community from the other two main ethnic communities. The concessions that the Muslim community has won actively helped the Muslim community to be proactive in their religious practices and thus paved the way for exclusive social and political choices. The rise of Islamic movements and mosques in the post-1977 period galvanized Muslims. In time this isolation has been reinforced by socio-religious revival among Muslims whose ethnic identity has been constructed along the lines of the Islamic faith by Muslim elites. Despite this revival it has been clear that the Muslim community has been reluctant to use Islamic traditions and principles for peace building, which could have helped to ease tensions, brought about by the 30 year old ethnic conflict. On the other hand this paper will briefly discuss some reactions from the majority Sinhalese to Islamic revival as well as some issues between the Tamils and Muslims and the reintegration of Muslims in the North. Finally, some pragmatic ways to ease tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in the greater discipline of conflict resolution are explored using traditions within Islam.  

References

Ameerdeen, V. (2006) ‘A Separate Muslim Administrative Unit: A Revolution or Disaster?’, paper presented at the South Asian Anthropologists’ Group (SAAG), Goldsmiths College, University of London, London, 4 July.

Downs, A. (1957) An Economic Theory of Democracy. New York: Harper.

Department of Census and Statistics–Sri Lanka, ‘Statistical Abstract of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’ [http://www.statistics.gov.lk/Abstract_2006/abstract2006/table%202007/CHAP%202/AB2-12.pdf, accessed 19 Mar. 2008].

Hoole, R. (2001) Massacres of Muslims and What It Means for the Tamils. http://www.uthr.org/Rajan/muslims.htm (accessed 20 May 2007).

Imtiyaz, A.R.M. (2008) Ethno-Political Conflict in Sri Lanka, Journal of Third World Studies, 25 (02): 135-152.

Imtiyaz, A.R.M. (2013) Identity, Choices and Crisis: A Study of Muslim Political Leadership in Sri Lanka, Journal of Asian and African Studies, 4 (01): 47-63.

Imtiyaz, A.R.M. (2009). Eastern Muslims of Sri Lanka: Special Problems and Solution’, in Journal of Asian and African Studies, 44(01), .404–27.

Imtiyaz, A.R.M. & Hoole, S. (2011). Some Critical Notes on the Non-Tamil Identity of the Muslims of Sri Lanka and on Tamil-Muslim Relations. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 34(2), 208-231.

Imtiyaz, A.R. M. & Mohamed-Saleem, A. (2015). Muslims in post-war Sri Lanka:understanding Sinhala-Buddhist mobilization against them. Asian Ethnicity, 16(2), 186-202.

International Crisis Group (ICG) (2007) Sri Lanka’s Muslims: Caught in the Crossfire. Asia Report 134, 29 May.

Ismail, Q. (1997). Unmooring Identity: The Antinomies of Elite Muslim Self Representation in Modern Sri Lanka. In P. Jeganathan, & Q. Ismail, Umnaking the Nation: The Politics of Identity and History in Modern Sri Lanka (pp. 55-105). colombo: SSA.

Interview with seven Tamils women and men on June 24, 2015.

Jayawadana, Sandun, SL intelligence lays net over ISIS sympathizes, nation, July 25, 2015, http://nation.lk/online/2015/07/25/sl-intelligence-lays-net-over-isis-sympathizes/

Kadayifci-Orellana S. A., Abu-Nimer M. & Mohamed-Saleem A. (2013). Understanding an Islamic Framework for Peace building, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Working Paper Series No. 2013-02: Birmingham, UK

Kamali, H. (2008). Maqasid al Shariah - made simple. Chicago: IIIT.

Kamali, M. H. (1991). Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence. Islamic Texts Society.

McGilvray, Dennis, B. (1997) Tamils and Muslims in the Shadow of War: Schism or Continuity?’, in South Asia, Vol.XX, Special Issue: .239–53.

McGilvray, D. B., & Raheem, M. (2007). Muslim Perspectives on the Sri Lankan Conflict. Washington, DC: East-West Centre.

Nuhman, M. A. (2007). Sri Lankan Muslims: Ethnic Identity within Cultural Diversity. Colombo: International Centre for Ethnic Studies.

O'Sullian, M. (1999). Conflict as a Catalyst: The Changing Politics of Sri Lankan Muslims. In S. Gamas, & I. B. Watson, Conflict and Community in Contemporary Sri Lanka. New Delhi: Sage Publications.

Posen, R. Barry (1993). Nationalism, the Mass Army, and Military Powers,” International Security, 18 (2). 80-124.

Stone, John (1995). Race, Ethnicity, and Weberian Legacy, American Behavioral Scientists, 38 (3), 391-407.

Taras, Ray and Ganguly, Rajrat (2002), Understanding Ethnic Conflict: The International Dimension. New York: Priscilla McGeehon.

Downloads

Published

2015-07-30

Issue

Section

Article

Similar Articles

1-10 of 106

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.