Muslims in Sri Lanka have been hiding in their homes — fearing that they’ll be attacked because of their religion — following the Easter Sunday massacre.
“We are scared about going out,” said Zareena Begum, a 60-year-old community member.
“I know people are angry at Muslims,” she told the Agence France Presse, speaking outside the Jumma mosque in Dematagoda. “Infants being carried in the arms of their mothers were killed.”
Authorities have described the Sri Lankan bombing suspects as Islamist extremists belonging to an international terror group. ISIS has claimed responsibility.
“I never imagined such hatred being there in the hearts of these people,” Begum said. “Hatred must not sow more hatred.”
A number of Muslims spoke to AFP about being scared for their lives following the announcement from Sri Lankan officials that the bombings were in retaliation for the New Zealand mosque attacks.
“Hundreds of people are being buried (so) there is going to be an emotional outburst and some of it could be justifiable,” said Himy Ahamed, vice-president of the influential Muslim Council of Sri Lanka.
“We have asked the government … to ensure security is maintained,” he told AFP. “This (attack) has not been carried out by the Muslim community but by some fringe elements.”
Ahamed and other Muslim leaders have accused Sri Lankan authorities of ignoring countless warnings that they gave over the years about the suspects’ alleged terror group, National Thowheed Jamath, whose leader was well-known locally.
“This person was a loner and he had radicalized young people in the guise of conducting Quran classes,” Ahamed explained.
The attacks on Sunday claimed more than 350 lives at three Christian churches and four hotels across the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo.
Angry mobs of Christians from house to house on Wednesday in the town of Negombo — smashing windows and breaking down doors — in retaliation for what happened. Many were beating up Muslims and threatening to kill them, according to “dozens of residents” who spoke to the New York Times.
“They even beat my kids,” alleged Auranzeb Zabi, a Pakistani refugee who has two kids and has been living in Sri Lanka for two years.
“We don’t feel safe anymore,” added Malik Farhan, another Pakistani refugee.
Muslims account for 10% of Sri Lanka’s population, making them the second-largest minority after Hindus, according to AFP. Christians account for about 7%.
“We are living in constant fear because if someone sees us wearing the skull cap they will perceive us to be their enemies,” Ameer said. “But we want to tell everyone we are not your enemies. This is our homeland, it is known as the pearl of Asia. We want it to remain like that.”
With Post wires