COLOMBO : Pakistan High Commissioner in Colombo Saad Khattak, said that the proposed ban on the Burka in Sri Lanka will only serve as injury to the sentiments of ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and Muslims across the globe.
“The likely ban on niqab in Sri Lanka will only serve as injury to the feelings of ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and Muslims across the globe. At today’s economically difficult time due to pandemic and other image related challenges faced by the country at international fora, such divisive steps in the name of security, besides accentuating economic difficulties, will only serve as fillip to further strengthen wider apprehensions about fundamental human rights of minorities in the country,” the high commissioner said in his twitter on Monday.
Citing security reasons, Sri Lanka is to ban the Burqa, Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral (Retd.) Dr. Sarath Weerasekera had said on Saturday.Weerasekera said that the Cabinet paper submitted for approval to ban the wearing of face veils in Sri Lanka includes the burqa.
The niqab covers the face of the wearer except the eyes, while the burqa covers the entire face of the wearer from onlookers, including the eyes.
The issue of Burqa will be taken up at the meeting of the ministers scheduled to take place at 4 pm on Monday.
However,the Minister further said the hijab will not be banned as it reveals the face of the wearer and poses no threat. The minister also said that some 1,000 Islamic schools, Madrasas, will also be closed to curtail the spread of religious extremis.
