Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

Sous-comité des droits internationaux de la personne du Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 21, 2019 -

The heartbreaking bombings of Catholic and Evangelical churches this Easter Sunday swiftly turned the world’s attention to the plight of religious minorities in Sri Lanka. Over 250 individuals were killed and 500 were injured. The Sri Lankan government attributed the attacks to an Islamist militant group and declared a national state of emergency. A subsequent ban on religious face-coverings and resurgent anti-Muslim violence has deteriorated an already precarious situation for religious liberties and interfaith harmony in Sri Lanka.

Deeply concerned with the plight of minority religious groups in Sri Lanka, on June 4th, 2019 the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (the Subcommittee) held a meeting to discuss the state of religious freedoms in the country.

Minority Christian communities, as well as Hindus and Muslims have all been victims of hate campaigns, mob attacks on places of worship, and threats of physical assault among many other hardships. The construction of Buddhist statues in Hindu places of worship is but one brazen example of provocation. Social media is a convenient tool used by extremists to spread hate speech and instigate intercommunal violence.

All evidence points to a significant amount of persecution being state led. Local governments have applied regulations that demand the registration of certain minority religions. When minority groups lodge complaints with police, victims are often implicated as parties to the case for “disturbing the peace.” For cases of religious persecution that end up in court, the judiciary has shown bias on many occasions, pressuring victims to settle cases rather than sentence perpetrators. While interfaith dialogue between groups is occurring and attempts at reconciliation are ongoing, more concrete efforts are needed.

The Subcommittee stands in solidarity to Sri Lanka following the horrific Easter Sunday bombings and urges dialogue between all religious groups. The Subcommittee stresses that religious minorities should all benefit from the same opportunities to practice their faith and that government should eliminate barriers preventing them from doing so.

Quotes

“Canada strongly condemns the Easter bombing attack as well as any type of violence or persecution perpetrated against religious minorities. Respect of religious freedom by government and continued dialogue between religious groups are key components of peace.”

-Anita Vandenbeld, M.P., Chair

“It is imperative that religious freedom be upheld in all jurisdictions of the globe, and out of that emanates all the other rights that are important to every human individual, including freedom of association, the freedom of expression and of opinion, and the freedom to assemble.”

-David Sweet, M.P., Vice-Chair

“The long history of intercommunal violence in Sri Lanka underlines the need for bridge-building between religious communities. The Easter Sunday bombings are a reminder of the fragility of peace. It is our hope that this tragedy leads not to more violence, but to reaffirming the need to uphold religious freedom for all faiths.”

-Cheryl Hardcastle, M.P., Vice-Chair