Breaking News: Sri Lanka to restrict the wearing of burqa

Sri Lanka: The wearing of the burqa will now be banned in Sri Lanka, and more than one thousand Islamic schools will be closed. This step of the government will affect the minority Muslim community here. 

What is the burqa?

The burqa is also called a chadaree in Afghanistan or a paranja in Central Asia. It is an enveloping outer garment covering the women’s body and face in some Islamic cultures. In Arab, the burqa is called the boshiya and is normally black.

Why is there halting of wearing of the burqa?

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera gave this information during a news conference. Sarath Weerasekera signed a paper on Friday that approved the banning of the burqa worn by Muslim women. This decision has been taken under national security. 

Apart from Sri Lanka, many countries of the world have banned the burqa. A few days ago, Switzerland also banned the wearing of burqas by holding a referendum.

Verasekera also stated that he had signed a bill for cabinet approval. It calls for a ban on Muslim women wearing burqas on the basis of national security. The Parliament of Sri Lanka can legislate on it as soon as the cabinet passes it.

He said, ‘In our early days, Muslim women and girls did not wear the burqa. It is a symbol of religious extremism which has come out recently, and we will definitely stop it. ‘ In 2019, wearing a burqa was temporarily banned in the Buddhist-majority country following an attack on churches and hotels. More than 250 people were killed in these attacks.

Ban of Islamic schools

Veerasekera said that the government is planning to ban more than a thousand madrasa Islamic schools. In fact, the government believes that these schools are making fun of national education policy. He said, ‘No one can open a school and cannot teach anything.’ 

Last year, the government had ordered the burning of those who died of the Muslim community due to Covid-19 was banned for burial and is now banning burqas and madrasas. However, the ban on Muslim bodies’ graves was lifted earlier this year when the US and international human rights groups criticized it.

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