19/04/2026
A Question to the Government Operating Under the Leadership of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake!
In the democratic nation of Sri Lanka, how can it be justified that the human rights and religious rights of Sufi Muslims are being taken away by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama(ACJU), operating under the authoritarian leadership of Rizvi M***i?
We, Sufi Muslims, who were born in this motherland of Sri Lanka and recognized by the State as its citizens, have never acted against the sovereignty of this country, nor have we posed any threat to its security.
Yet, we ask only for the rights granted to a citizen under the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Based on the constitutional rights of freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression granted to a citizen, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama(ACJU), unable (or unwilling) to understand the Sufi views expressed by me, has not only declared me and the thousands of Sufi Muslims who accepted my views as having left the religion of Islam, but has also issued a “fatwa” declaring us apostates (“murtad”), despite not being legally granted the authority to issue such religious verdicts by law. Furthermore, they have stated in their ruling that all of us must be killed.
As a result of this anti-democratic ruling, one of the senior religious scholars of our community, the late Moulavi MSM Farooq Qadiri, was shot and killed at his home in 1998 by unidentified persons. This is a matter that must be mentioned here.
Moreover, in 2007, while I was speaking in my office with the administrators of the mosque functioning under my leadership, unidentified armed individuals entered my office with weapons, attempting either to kill me or abduct me at gunpoint. By the grace of God, I narrowly escaped. Alhamdulillah.
To this day, I and the preachers who work with me continue to live in fear of their death threats. In a free country, we are unable to freely go to public places or gatherings where people assemble.
In their anti-democratic “fatwa,” they have stated that the marriages of the Sufi community are invalid under Islamic law, that marital relations among them amount to adultery, and that children born to them are children born out of adultery.
They have also stated that Muslims must socially boycott the Sufi community and that Sufi Muslims should not be allowed to enter mosques managed by non-Sufis.
Above all, they have stated that if anyone from our community dies, Islamic funeral rites must not be performed for them and they must not be buried in Muslim burial grounds.
Similarly, they have written many other statements provoking the Sufi community and pushing them toward unlawful acts. However, I wish to state at this moment that our community has not engaged in any action contrary to the law at any time. On the contrary, many acts of terrorism have been carried out against our Sufi community in the past with the support of institutions that enforce this “fatwa.” We have testified many times before investigative committees and commissions, including those related to the Easter attacks. The painful fact is that no constructive action has been taken by any government to date.
The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama(ACJU) is not the government of this country, nor does it possess authority to suppress a community. In such a situation, even the government seeking guidance from the Jamiyyathul Ulama on matters concerning the religious affairs of Muslims in Sri Lanka can be considered, in a way, a violation of democracy.
Honourable President Anura Kumara Dissanayake,
On the basis that every citizen living in Sri Lanka has the right to follow the faith and principles of their choice, I respectfully request that you, using the executive powers vested in you as Head of State, annul the unjust “fatwa” issued against me and the thousands of Muslims who accepted my views, and officially recognize all of us as Sufi Muslims living in Sri Lanka.
Moulavi Alhaj A. Abdur Rauff Misbahee Bahjee
Leader,
Sufi Community,
Kattankudy.
19.04.2026
