A Christian group has hailed the significance of the findings of a United Nations’ special rapporteur’s report on violations of freedom of religion in Sri Lanka.
The report, which was recently presented to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), details how Christians and other religious minorities have suffered from extreme violations of freedom of religion or belief since Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in 2009.
The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) says the findings tally with its own book, ‘UK Home Office Denialism of the Persecution of Christians in Sri Lanka’, due to be published in May.
Authored by Desmond Fernandes, the book provides extensive documentation drawn from a variety of sources to support the special rapporteur’s contention that religious minorities face restrictions in the manifestation of their religion.
BPCA trustee Juliet Chowdhry said the association’s book was commissioned immediately after members met with Sri Lankan community leaders following the 2019 Easter bomb attacks.
“Assurances made for change made by the government of Sri Lanka never came to fruition and known perpetrators of war crimes have thus far escaped justice,” she said.
“By withdrawing from the UNHRC co-sponsored resolution [to undertake accountability and reconciliation after the civil war], the Sri Lankan government has exhibited little or no passion to correct the wrongs of the past and it has been a devastating blow to campaigners.
Sustainable peace
“Moreover, societal divisions have persisted and persecution in the country is evidently increasing, leaving minority people’s hopes for sustainable peace at its lowest ebb. We continue to pray for Christians in Sri Lanka and within the whole of the South Asian subcontinent.”
Ahmed Shaheed, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, said in his report there has been no closure on several issues relating from the 26-year civil war.
“While there have been some elementary steps taken, lack of accountability and impunity remains a widespread concern, perpetuating a sense of insecurity among all religious communities,” stated Shaheed in the report.
“The transitional period has been marked by simmering tensions between ethno-religious communities. These challenges appear to be related primarily to the state-religion relationship which offers majoritarian privileges, undermining equal protection of the law for minorities.
“Moreover, there have been recurrent inter-communal violence and religious extremism in the past years before the Easter bombings in 2019.”
Religious minorities face restrictions, their places of worship are desecrated and their religious activities such as worship are disrupted by locals and authorities.
“Aggressive campaigns by militant nationalist and religious groups against ethnic, religious and other minorities are particularly concerning,” the report said.
Fernandes of the BPCA commented: “The minority communities are feeling extremely vulnerable with the constant threat of hate speech and hate crimes while they have no recourse for justice.
“Most of them have lost their faith in the state and law enforcement agencies after multiple traumas from the violence.”