Hakeem group to fight for Muslim rights

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

The Rauff Hakeem-led SLMC faction which took seats in the Opposition in Parliament and voted against the Budget said it will raise voice on behalf of the Muslim community in Parliament and local and international fora until issues faced by the Muslims, especially in the East, are solved.

Rauff Hakeem

“We voted against the Budget after considering the fact that the problems faced by the Muslim community were given a deaf ear. This decision was mainly due to the pressure exerted by the community and organizations like the Eastern Province Mosques Federation and All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama,” said Parliamentarian Hassen Ali, who crossed over and was also the SLMC Secretary General.

He said that lands belonging to Muslims in the East are been taken over by force and already a religious conflict has been created in predominantly Muslim areas.“In his Budget speech Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said a solution to the land issue prevailing in the eastern parts of Sri Lanka would be found. So we hope that the Government ministers would take necessary steps regarding this issue,” he said.

He warned that unless solutions were found, Muslims would be disturbed and would affect the way the Muslims voted, adding that this might be the beginning of a revolution until Muslims’ problems are taken up for consideration.