For the following article, we asked just three questions from a few members of the Muslim Community in Colombo. Below are small introductions to them and excerpts from the different views they expressed.

1. When you first heard that Muslim extremists were responsible for bombing multiple Churches and Hotels in Sri Lanka, how did you feel, and what were you thinking?

Zeneefa Zaneer – is a bilingual (Sinhala and English) author, whose book ‘They Failed to Kill Her’ was shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize in 2018.

When I got to know that a group of Muslims were involved, I felt betrayed. Betrayed for causing harm to innocent worshipers in the name of my religion. 

Not a week ago when we took our children out on a weekend, they were super excited to see armed officers in a truck. My first child was born in 2009, post war. So, both my husband I were saying how lucky they are to be born in a time when there’s no war. Where seeing an army officer was the rarest sight. It was really a blessing to raise children in a free country. Being a mother, I couldn’t bear watching children being hurt and lost. I cried. Nobody should have gone through what these innocent people went through. 

Yasir – who preferred to display his middle name only, is a Sri Lankan Finance Professional living in Colombo.

Firstly, I do not agree with the question itself as extremism and terrorism should not be associated with any religion. Hence allow me to encourage you to rephrase the question as I believe that we as a community should not set an example of accepting extremism to be a part of our religion.

It was a shock to be honest. Initial couple of hours was disbelief. One of my friends was inside one of the churches with his family and another close by. It was just a nightmare.

Begench Melayev – is a Turkmenistani Businessman living in Sri Lanka with his family since 2016.

I was devastated when I first heard the news. Islam literally means “peace”. Even during a war, Islam categorically prohibits hurting women, children and elders, harming trees and animals, as well as destroying places of worship. So, when during a peaceful time, on an Easter Sunday, when thousands of innocent people, among them women, children and elders, come together to celebrate their festival and pray, they are heinously targeted in their place of worship, it makes no sense at all.

2. The Easter Attack caused a lot of misunderstanding between communities in Sri Lanka. What are your thoughts on building coexistence and harmony in our Island?

Begench: I think “causing a lot of misunderstanding between communities in Sri Lanka” is exactly what these terrorists targeted. So, if this becomes the case, it will mean that they have achieved their target and won. I hope, this will not be the case. I hope the exact opposite will happen. I hope communities in Sri Lanka will get closer to each other than ever before, like it happened in New Zealand after the Christchurch mosque shooting.

Fazli Sameer – is a retired IT consultant who has authored several books.

Only common sense and honest contemplation will bring back peace and harmony. I have lost several good friends who I knew for decades purely because I am a Muslim, and they feel I am also responsible for what happened. It is so sad. I hope they will realize their folly.

Nihla Shafie – is an English Teacher, but mainly teaches boys aged 8 to 13 to mind their P’s and Q’s.

In order to live in harmony and peace, I believe we should first get to know our neighbours. Even if they are racist. The media has only been adding fuel to the fire. And I keep thinking of the story of our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH and his neighbour who threw garbage on him whenever he passed by. The day she refrained from doing it, he was so concerned that he went to inquire if she was ok. When he found her sick, he offered to be of assistance to her.

Zeneefa: Back then we had various events in the village and school. All children took part in Avurudu Uthsawaya and Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. Today I see there are many Cultural Days celebrated in schools. But who gets invited to these events? Parents of the relevant students in the Society/Club. Islamic day is celebrated with parents of Muslim children. Hinduism day is celebrated with parents of Hindu children. So, how will children of one faith learn the values of other religions and cultures?

Yasir: It’s disheartening to see that the country still has a schooling system that encourages a religion-based registration system. A few of the major schools in Colombo only enroll children from a certain race/religion. This leads to a child not being exposed to the diversity of Sri Lanka that we preach about so much.

3. As a Muslim, if you were given the opportunity to speak to the survivors, what would you say to them?

Begench: First of all, we must understand that nothing we say, will make their pain go away. So, we have to listen to them, try to understand their feelings and share their grief. We have to show that we stand together with them.

We have to show with our actions that this is not a battle between Islam and any other religion. This is the same battle that has been going on since the beginning of humanity; this is the battle between good and evil. On one side there is love, compassion, kindness, and respect for one another, and on the other side there is hate and destruction. We have to show (not tell) as a Muslim community, that our religion requires us to be with the good and against the evil, no matter who it is.

Zeneefa: I do not have words to console them. I am feeling guilty even today for something I have not done. But all I can say is that if my family was present there it wouldn’t have made any difference to the blood thirsty monsters.

We end with the inspiring words of Mr. Begench from Turkmenistan, who has chosen Sri Lanka as his current home:

“Building coexistence and harmony is a long and difficult process. It starts with one person, showing sincere care and outreach to people from different communities, over a long period of time. And then, it organically grows. There are no shortcuts and easy answers. It will not be easy to overcome such a tragedy. Building is difficult, destruction is easy. One person can destroy in one day, what hundreds of people have built for a hundred years. But I hope the Sri Lankan people can look back at their thousand-year history of peaceful coexistence in this wonderful island and find inspiration.”

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This article was facilitated by: Aamina Muhsin. 
Special Thanks to:
Begench  Melayev
Zeneefa Zeneer
Fazli Sameer
Nihla Marikar
And, Yasir
– for the swift co-operation and interest displayed in putting this article together.