Sri Lanka min asks security forces to avoid incidents that may lead to radicalisation of Muslims

Sri Lankan security forces should avoid the incidents that caused some people face social stigma during the search operations after the Easter Sunday blasts carried out by a "cult" within the community, as it may lead to radicalisation of moderate Muslims in the country, a Minister has warned.

Minister of City Planning, Water Management and Higher Education Rauff Hakeem said Muslims welcome and support the security forces and police to carry out search operations following the April 21 carnage in which over 250 people were killed.

There have been few incidents of concern during these operations, which should be avoided as these could lead to radicalisation of moderate Muslims in the country, he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror on Monday.

"Some people have suffered social stigma as a result of some minor happenings during search operations being sensationalised. One must not get carried away if Islamic literature written in Arabic or in Tamil is found in a house. It may not be terrorist literature.

"There may be anti-(Osama) Bin Laden or anti-extremist literature with some people. The security forces could get help from the Department of Muslim Affairs to interpret such literature," the Minister told reporters.

Hakeem also said that the bombings had been carried out by a cult living among the Muslims which earlier attacked the "mainstream mosques in certain Middle Eastern countries".

"We as Muslims had warned the authorities of certain activities such as speeches made by certain people promoting extremism, which is against Islam, by certain groups from time to time," he said.

When asked about the weapons being found in some mosques, during the searches, Hakeem said places of worship should not be used to keep arms, adding that "terrorist activities and ordinary crimes should not be mixed up".

Asked about the ban on wearing a veil by Muslim women and on the unregistered mosques, he said relevant government institutions will take necessary measures on these matters soon.