The Honorable Antony Blinken
Secretary of State
United States Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Blinken,
Egregious religious freedom violations are occurring in Sri Lanka. Muslims are being forced to cremate despite it being prohibited by Islam. To date, over 100 bodies have been cremated, and many more are languishing in morgues.
The Sri Lankan government has been referring to multiple, supposed, “Expert Committees” to deny burials on the grounds of containing the contamination and spread of COVID-19. Yet world-renowned virologists, epidemiologists, and the World Health Organization directly contradict Sri Lanka claims that COVID-related burials contaminate groundwater and sand. UN Human Rights experts have also urged the Sri Lankan Government to end its policy of forced cremation of the COVID-19 deceased, saying it ran contrary to the beliefs of Muslims and other minorities in the country and could foment existing prejudices, intolerance and violence.
In pursuing their cause as quickly as possible to deny Muslims their burial rights, Sri Lanka has now begun negotiations to transfer corpses to the Maldives thereby denying burial in their own country. Moreover, the State’s actions are creating despair and anguish. COVID testing protocols are being ignored while pushing through cremations. A twenty-day-old and a two-month-old baby were cremated without COVID testing protocols, and in one case, a woman’s COVID test came back negative after she had already been cremated.
Muslims are facing an existential threat. Urgent de-escalation measures from the United States are necessary. We have a moral obligation to call out these discriminatory acts against Muslim minorities. A silent, nonviolent, mass protest is taking place in Sri Lanka. However, if left unchecked, it can escalate into a serious catastrophe, and this would only be used as a pretext to continue denying religious freedom.
Signed,
Soraya Deen – Muslim Women Speakers
Dr. Mike Ghouse – Center for Pluralism
ORGANIZATIONS
M Zuhdi Jasser MD, President
American Islamic Forum for Democracy. Phoenix, AZ.
Anila Ali, Founder
American Multi Faith Women’s Empowerment Network – California
Ubaidur Rahmaan Mahmood JP, President
Austra-Lanka Muslim Association Inc
Imran Ali Cader, Director
Australasia Trade Pvt. Ltd.
Massimo Introvigne
Bitter Winter, an international magazine on religious liberty
Jeremy Ahamed Liyanage, Executive Director
Bridging Lanka Ltd. Australia.
CESNUR, Center for Studies on New Religions
Thierry Valle, President
Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience
Nehemiah Christie, Human Rights Defender
Global Christian Ministers Federation
Priyadharshanie Ariyaratne, President & Founder
Green Hats Foundation – Sri Lanka
Rehan Khan, MD, MA.
President, International Society for Peace and Justice
Dr. Mohamed Mohideen OAM, President
Islamic Council of Victoria
Shahim Mathaiz, Coordinator
Melbourne Human Rights Forum Australia
Dhilanthi Fernando, Music Director
Morgan Park Presbyterian Church Chicago
Raheel Raza, Founder
Muslims Facing Tomorrow – Canada
Roxana Rais, Chairperson
Muslim Women’s Advisory Council. United Kingdom.
Dharshana Dias
OCSL. Denmark.
Dr. Brian Jeganathan, President.
People for Human Rights and Equality (PHRE) Australia
Arun Arundavaraja, President
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Australia
Mr. Mano Ganesan, MP, Leader
Tamil Progressive Alliance. Sri Lanka.
Falih Shums, President
United Sri Lankan Muslim Association of Australia
Dr. Lionel Bopage, Convenor.
Voice for Justice in Sri Lanka International Collective CDSL Australia
Shreen Saroor, Founder
Women’s Action Network Sri Lanka
INDIVIDUALS
with titles and organizations for identification purposes only
Ambika Satkunanathan
Human Rights Defender
Sri Lanka
Dr. Ameer Ali
Australia
Ameena Hussein
Writer
Sri Lanka
Amita Arudpragasam
Community Activist
Sri Lanka
Ayne-Marie Leitch
Activist
Sri Lanka
Carryl Perera
Environmental Activist
Sri Lanka
Darvis Carrim
California
Dileepa Manawadu
Educator
Sri Lanka
Faaiz Ameer
Attorney at Law
Sri Lanka
Faisal Buharie
Engineer
Orange County California
Farajh Marikar Deen
Musician
Los Angeles, California
Farzana J. Khan
Small Business Consultant
Sri Lanka
Hilmy Marikar
Switzerland
Ifthikar Nissar
Educator
Palm Springs California
Imaan H. Deen
Founder
Diversity & Pluralism Club at Viewpoint School, Calabasas
Khadija Khan
Journalist
United Kingdom
Lihini Fernando
Member Municipal Council
Attorney at Law
Sri Lanka
Menaka Indrakumar
Social activist
Sri Lanka
Mohammed Foumy Marikar
Banker
Luxembourg
Mohamed Zinoon
Palm Springs
California
Nehemiah Christie
Human Rights Defender
Puni Selvaratnam
Justice of Peace
Sri Lanka
Pushpa Buddhadasa
IT Services
Sri Lanka & Russia
Reza Bongso
Educator
Sri Lanka
Rehan Khan, MD, MS
President
International Society for Peace and Justice
Dr. Richard L. Benkin
Independent Human Rights Activist, USA
Saheed Deen
OBA
Trinity College Kandy
Saroj Pathirana
Journalist
United Kingdom
Sharmini Dias Nagahawatte
Activist
Sri Lanka
Shimaal Carrim
Engineer
Tarzana, California
Sunila Mendis
Educator
Sri Lanka
Swarna Gunaratna
Social Justice Activist, former Consul General (LA)
Canada
Venerable Tenzin Lekhdron
Bikkuni
Australia
Thanuja Navaratne
Attorney at Law
Sri Lanka
Thierry Valle
President
Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience
Tikiri Subhashini Wipfler
Human Rights Activist
Sri Lanka and Germany
Tina Mats
Social Justice Activist
Germany
Dr. Tush Wickramanayaka
Human Rights Activist
Sri Lanka and UK
Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
Sri Lanka
Vraie Cally Balthazaar
Activist
Sri Lanka
Zafar Iqbal
USA
