Sri Lanka backs off plan to ban burqa, close Islamic schools
Following the outrage, Sri Lanka on Tuesday went into damage control and issued a new statement
Wednesday March 17, 2021 10:36 AM, ummid.com with inputs from Agencies
Colombo: Sri Lanka on Tuesday decided to put on hold its controversial decision to ban burqa and close Islamic schools (Mada’ris) after receiving flak from local organisations and international outrage.
Burqa is the clothing worn by Muslim women in a sign of modesty and honour.
Sri Lankan Minister for Public Security
Sarath Weerasekera had created stir last week after he called burqa a “sign of religious extremism” and called for its immediate ban.
Colombo [Sri Lanka], March 16 (ANI): The Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka on Tuesday issued a statement on a proposed ban on wearing burqa and niqab in Sri Lanka, saying that the government is yet to impose a ban and a proposal in this regard is being discussed.
Sri Lanka Announces Burqa Ban as Easter Jihad Anniversary Approaches
The government of Sri Lanka announced this weekend it would implement a nationwide ban on
burqas, Islamic coverings for women that shield the entire face, arguing the garment presents “national security” risks.
As the federal government does not have the unilateral power to implement such a ban, ministers will reportedly be working alongside lawmakers to draft it into law. Reports indicated the government in Colombo will accompany this move with the shutdown of hundreds of
madrassas, or Islamic schools, operating without government license or supervision in an attempt to diminish the influence of radical jihadist ideology.
Behind Sri Lanka s Move to Ban Burqa and Shut Down 1,000 Islamic Madrasas
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Quad summit 2021
Sri Lanka s cabinet will soon decide if burqas will be banned in the country. The island public security minister Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara has said he has sent the proposal to the cabinet he Cabinet paper recommending a total ban Muslim women from wearing the long garment that covers the whole body from head to feet.
Though the country s two million Muslims view the move as a discriminatory move, minister Weerasekara says burqa is a national security threat. Burqa is new to Sri Lanka. Earlier, no Muslim women used to wear burqa. Sri Lanka has had a peaceful coexistence with all religions for long. These days, some women wear burqa. It poses a grave threat to national security , Weerasekara said.
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will ban the wearing of the burqa and shut more than a thousand Islamic schools, a government minister said on Saturday, the latest actions affecting the country’s minority.