The Easter Sunday massacre is considered an outburst of religious extremism generated from Jihardism. Jihardisam could be identified as one of the strategies adopted by Muslim extremists to propel their expansion over non-believers using terror tactics.
There is a link between Jihardism and Crusadism that emerged in mediaeval history. A crusade is a series of medieval military expeditions launched to recover the Holy Land from the Muslim expansion. Jihardism was launched by Muslim extremists to fight those who challenge their expansion.
Conflict
The emergence of conflict between Jihardists and the Christian community is considered an effort by religious extremists in the Muslim world to restore the status-quo held by Muslim expansionists.
It is also a response from Muslim extremists to the challenges imposed by the US and its allies in the West over petroleum rich Islamic States.
The mindset during crusades between Muslim and Christian communities might be one of the contributory factors for the Easter Sunday carnage that targeted the Christian community.
History
Considering historical evidence pertaining to the series of wars waged by Muslim invaders in the Middle East, Europe and India during medieval times, Jihardism is used as a principal war strategy even in the past as far back as 7th Century AD. Religion gave to their expansion a degree of animation. One of the renowned historians, Fisher, in his book titled “History of Europe” states “without the bond of Common religion, Arab horseman lacked the cohesion failing which victories can seldom be won and never secured”.
They have offered two options when they had come across or confronted with non-believers of Islam that latter should embrace Islam, if not they should embrace their death. The wars waged by Ghazni Mohamed, Ghore Mohamed, Allauddim Khalji, Balbon of Dhilhi Suthanate and Aaurangzeb of Moghul Empire in India during medieval times could be cited as glaring instances for practicsing crude Jihardism to suppress and kill several thousands of people in India to accomplish their goal.
Considering the socio-cultural and economic background of the moderate Muslim community in medieval Sri Lanka, they had a simple faith of Islam sans Jihardism. Their main livelihood had been based on trade and commerce. A peaceful environment devoid of terrorism is absolutely necessary for such a lifestyle.
Co-existence
In that context, it has been observed that the Muslim community in Sri Lanka always preferred peaceful co-existence with rest of the communities in this country, specifically in the past and to a great extent, even today. The older generations of Muslims in Sri Lanka continuously maintained peaceful and friendly relations with other communities throughout history.
However, the mindset of some youth belonging to the young generation has changed from peace to aggression and extremism due to negative local and global messaging during the recent past.
Consequent to the undue interference and pressure imposed by US and its allies over Muslim states to exploit petroleum resources, the Muslim states were compelled to organize themselves against exploitation and in that process, they have adopted various strategies. Some encourage Jihardism to motivate Muslim youths to fight against exploitation and they were compelled to organize themselves together to fight against this common enemy - US and its allies.
As a result, many Muslim states, particularly those rich in petroleum, re-organised themselves adding “Islamic” to their country title.
Resurgence
It may also be noted that several Muslim terrorist outfits such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Bokoharam and Taliban have emerged based on Jihardism. Jihardism in Sri Lanka is considered as a by-product of the resurgence of Muslim terrorist outfits that emerged globally.The impact of the resurgence of Jihardist terrorism in Sri Lanka has been intensified and consolidated due to the training of Muslim youths in the ISIS cause, dissemination of the principles of Jihardism through advanced Information Technology and Madrasas, funding Jihardist outfits through various tactics adopted by pro-Jihardist organisations and NGOs.
During investigations conducted by the Security Forces and Commissions appointed on the Easter Sunday Massacre, it was revealed that Madrasas have played a key role in disseminating religious extremism based on Jihardism. It was also revealed that massive funds were pumped by some Muslim states for Jihardist activities in this country.
Politicisation of the Muslim community by some political parties who represent the Muslims exclusively for their survival is considered another contributing factor for strengthening Jihardism in this country.
These political parties are in the habit of encouraging racism and extremism among the Muslim community for their survival contrary to the Islamic concept of “Unity for Prosperity”. Even certain statements were made by some Muslim political party leaders to defend the Easter Sunday massacre.
It may also be remembered that certain major political parties committed to safeguard Muslim party leaders although there was clear cut evidence to corroborate their involvement in the Easter massacre.
Ignorance
The ignorance of the moderate Muslim community in identifying true Islam and Jihardist terrorism is considered another vital factor which contributed to strengthen Jihardist terrorism in the recent past in this country. Some blindly embrace Jihardist terrorism assuming it is true Islam.
The young Muslim generation has ignored the true values of the traditional Sri Lankan Muslim culture based on peaceful coexistence. There was no room for terrorism or religious extremism in traditional Sri Lankan Muslim culture.
The young Muslim generation has drifted to a newly emerged aggressive culture based on Wahabism due to various reasons, including financial gains, assumed social status, and globalisation of traditional cultures, emergence of sophisticated information technology and accessibility to the world. It may be noted that Wahabism in another facet of Jihardist terrorism.
It has been observed that some members of the Muslim clergy who patronise Wahabism directly or indirectly contribute to promoting Jihardist terrorism among young Muslims. The latters’ knowledge of Islam is gained from the clergy. During investigations on the Easter Sunday carnage, it was revealed that some members of the Muslim clergy had conducted classes in Madrasas to brainwash Muslim youths on the merits of practicing Jihardist terrorism.
Organisational structure
The strong organisational structure without transparency built by those committed to Jihardism such as ISIS, is another factor that consolidates Jihardist terrorism in this country.
Those who subscribe to funding without transparency at various scales, aiding abetting through various means such as training, fraternising, affiliating and grouping with the global network of terrorism on the pretext of defending human rights of Muslim community in this country as well as overseas are considered hidden elements of that organisational structure.
Some Muslim political leaders who promote extremism are also considered influential components of the organisational structure. Controversial statements made by several Muslim politicians openly to defend the role played by them in favour of Jihardists are considered clear cut instances that these disgruntled politicians are enmeshed with Jihardist terrorism in this country.
As revealed in an investigation report, a Muslim political leader put up a massive building complex using funds collected from one of the oil-rich Islamic states in the Middle East to teach Wahabism in the Eastern Province, on the pretext of a project to develop education among Muslim youth.
Hundreds of such instances could be cited on perusal of investigation reports on Islamic extremism in this country in recent past.
The survival of Jihardist terrorism in this country depends on its organisational structure. It is necessary to trace this structure and abolish it and to rehabilitate those who actively engaged in Jihardism to restore the status-quo of peaceful co-existence among communities. In this process of reconciliation, not only Islamic extremism but also extremism promoted by other religious communities and clergies should also be controlled. Their co-operation is necessary to realise this effort for the betterment of the country. The Archbishop of Colombo called for the support of the international community seek the mastermind of the Easter Sunday carnage. He reiterated that “the attack on Easter Sunday 2019 was not carried out by a group of seven persons. There is something bigger behind these attacks. We need the support of the international community to find out who used these seven or eight persons to fulfill their objectives”.
It is not uncommon in global power politics that the US and its allies are in the process of interfering and destabilising some states which they have identified as strategically important for the expansion of their power. In that context, it could be assumed that one of the world powers was behind the Easter Sunday massacre with the hidden intention to destabilise this country. It could also be assumed that one of the Islamic extremist groups such as the ISIS was the mastermind of the Easter Sunday massacre as they targeted the Christian community.
These are only assumptions. It is unlikely that they are acceptable to the Archbishop of Colombo.
If he comes out with facts and figures pertaining to his statements, the government would be able to extend investigations in that direction to find out what was “something behind Easter Sunday attacks” or who is the Mahamolakaru (mastermind) behind it.
Instead of helping the government to find the mastermind, referring the issue to the international community requesting their support seems to cause irrecoverable disrepute to the government and its integrity. It also paves way for the international community to interfere in the internal matters of this country which could be a risk to security.
It is not possible to point fingers at one particular person, group or country for being the mastermind due to the lack of information in reports submitted by the Presidential Commission.
However, it is clear that extremism generated by Jihardist terrorism was the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday massacre.
It is important for the government to further attempt to find the mastermind or force behind the carnage in collaboration with the Archbishop of Colombo to resolve this conflict for the betterment of the country.