4th, August 2016
M-Media
Reported by Moe Sat & Thiha
Muslim community in Myanmar stands against terrorism by strongly denouncing IS threat to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after a ‘IS Threat ‘ letter appeared in Malaysia.
Received by Malaysian police on August 1, the two pages letter named local politicians as well as Myanmar state counselor as targets of their group. Suu Kyi was the only foreign target of IS, according to letter.
Here are some responses from Myanmar Muslim leaders –
I never accept and support terrorist acts of IS. Most of the Myanmar Muslims supported Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and were not reluctant to vote in November election. We strongly condemn that kind of threat to our leader. Ideology and activities of that terrorist group has nothing to do with Islam and we reject them.
(Al Haj-Maulana- Hafiz Muhammad Swaleh@ U Soe Than – Chairman of Jammatul-Ulema Union of Myanmar)
This is unacceptable. We don’t accept any kind of violent acts and reject it. We denounce any group which did that thing both personally and collectively. Our goal is to stand firmly in Islam – peaceful way of life and to convey peace among our society. We are trying to educate our people what Islam really is.
(Al Haj U Tin Maung Than (General Secretary of Islamic Religious Affairs Council of Union of Myanmar (HQ)
Islam doesn’t belong to terrorism. Muslims in Myanmar are living peacefully in the country by dealing their best with every situation they face. Therefore, we didn’t accept any kind of terrorist acts whether it comes from inside or outside of the country. All of the people in our country reject and condemn this threat. I want to say that we – Myanmar Muslims- are ready to defend them together with our fellow citizens.
(Al Haj U Myint Tun – Chairman of Myanmar Muslim Youth (Religious) Organization)
We don’t care about this threat letter. I am not reluctant to give my life to defend our leader if it is true. This IS group didn’t give any positive effects to our community but tarnished our faith and its followers. I would step forward first if IS or whoever attacked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I’m not NLD Party member but government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is doing something to alleviate our sufferings and injustices that our community face in recent years. That is why we will do everything we can to defend our leader.
(Al Haj Khalifah U Thein Win Aung -a leader of one Islamic Sufi order in Mandalay )
There are a lot of speculations and threats. But if you see Muslim community in Myanmar, they ignored their own Muslims candidates to vote Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I am sure that there is no negative views in Myanmar Muslims minds about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. ISIS has changed their propaganda. They are extending their threats by using media and online but they don’t have capability to implement this. I don’t mean we don’t have to be aware of. We must keep an eye on that. The important thing I want to say is the attack doesn’t become real in Myanmar. As I said before, there is no guarantee that if young people are radicalized by those extremists when they are oppressed and persecuted or their future is lost. Losing hope, oppression, insulting their faith and their beloved prophet are the reason that can be exploited by terror group.
(Al Haj U Aye Lwin- Chief Convener of the Islamic Center of Myanmar )
We condemn both threats and terror attacks. Not Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, there is no allowed to attack anyone. And IS doesn’t represent Islam.
(Kyi Soe – Leader of aid group Social Alliance)
It is just threat letter. It is difficult to understand the name of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is included in the list designed to threaten Malaysia government officials. IS is a terrorist group most of the Muslims are rejected. No foreign group can divide Muslims and Buddhist people in our country and we will maintain our peaceful coexistence.
( Naing Aung Min – Director of Yew Latt Yar Institute)
