‘How can our student body be held responsible for actions of expelled members?’
Sri Lanka Islamic Students Movement (SLISM) has rejected the unsubstantiated and unfounded allegations contained against it, in the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday Attacks and the authorisation of the Attorney General to proscribe the organisation.
In a statement issued to the press on 9 April, M.A. Amjath Khan, SLISM Acting President said: “We regret very much that the Commission of Inquiry (COI) had accused the SLISM as an extremist organisation without any reasonable evidence. Our organisation was never summoned by the Commission to answer the alleged accusations, violating the universally accepted norms of natural justice.
“As a transparent and mainstream youth organisation functioning for over 40 years in this country with a clean track record, we are deeply shocked and saddened by the arbitrary decision to authorise the proscription.
“We have had nothing to do with the Easter Sunday attacks of 21/4/2019 or any other acts even remotely connected to terrorism. Why we were not asked to explain by the Commission or the Honourable Attorney General?
“The only reason appears to be that few of our already expelled former members had been arrested in connection with the vandalising of Buddha statues by some irresponsible elements. We had condemned that incident of December 2018 and the Easter Sunday attacks of 21/4/2019. What is significant is that these persons were expelled as far back as 2015 and shortly thereafter from our organisation for violating the Constitution and for conduct unbecoming of a member.
“Expulsion of these persons from our organisation several years prior to the alleged attack on the Buddha statues in Mawanella is the best evidence of our zero tolerance for wrongful conduct and the integrity of the organisation.
“How can our organisation be held responsible for actions of persons expelled years earlier? Equally relevant is that no one has been prosecuted or convicted for the vandalising of the statues.
“We condemn the proposed proscription as totally unjustified and as an unreasonable attack on Muslim civil activity in the country.
“We have authorised our Lawyers to challenge in our Courts of law any attempt at forcibly shutting down our organisation. Until the Courts decide, we will cease functioning if the organisation is proscribed.
“We appeal to our dedicated members to remain calm, peaceful and cease all activities of the organisation, if and when proscribed.
“We have confidence in our judiciary that justice will be done. Almighty Allah will be with those who are patient and at prayers.”