November 18 2013
M-Media
KK
A Letter sent to the President of the Republic of Union of Myanmar To take Legal Action on Insulting Islam with the Banner “Animal Doctrine Islam”
This photo was downloaded from “Ra Kei Ta” (Rakhine) FB
A letter has been sent to the President of Myanmar by the Islamic Religious Organization of Myanmar, to take action regarding the Insult on Islam during the protest against the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) delegations who visited Myanmar after the official invitation by the Myanmar Government.
It was mentioned in the letter that during the protest, the banners held by the protesters included derogatory and insulting terms such as “Oppose the Fast-breeding Animal Doctrine Islam”, “We don’t want Sharia (Islamic Law) which supports Rape and Murder”; and such religious insults are utterly against the state’s constitution and prescribed criminal laws; the All Myanmar Government Recognized Islamic Religious Organization cannot tolerate such religious insults as the derogatory term “Animal Doctrine” have become an insult to a religion followed by diverse nationalities all over the world, which was intentionally meant to traumatize its followers; and therefore the organization urges to take serious criminal action against the people and organizations involved.
The following is the translation of the letter sent to the President.
The Republic of Union of Myanmar
All Myanmar Government Recognized Islamic Religious Organization
No. 214, Bo Sun Pet Street, Pabedan Township, Yangon.
Phone- 388146, 253683, 252608, 241717, 241212, 296134
Letter No. MaABa/Admin/77/2013 ASa(4)
Date- 18November 2013
To,
The President,
The Union of Myanmar,
Subject: To take serious criminal action against the Insult on Islam
1.The Republic of Union of Myanmar is a country where people of different races and creeds live. According to the Section 362 of the Constitution, Buddhism is the most predominant religion, and Christian, Islam, Hinduism and Paganism are also acknowledged as the religions practiced by its people.
2.The Section 363 describes that the state will strive to protect and help the acknowledged religions.
3.The Section 364 says that any act which could lead to probable conflicts, hatred and misapprehension of its people of different sects, creeds and races.
4.It is clearly stated in the Section 354 (D), not to offend any religion or race while freedom of speech and press is allowed unless it is not against the law, the country’s security, tranquility, prevalence of law and order, and the morale and morality of its people.
5.It is also mentioned in the Criminal Laws Section (295-A) not to offend or attempt to offend other’s religion or beliefs orally, verbally, visually or in any form so that it would traumatize the people.
6.And yet, during the protest against the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) delegations who visited Myanmar on the 14th to the 16th of November 2013, after the official invitation by the Myanmar Government, some protestors, under the title of so-called opposing OIC, mentioned the following derogatory, offensive and insulting terms against Islam overtly.
- “Oppose the Fast-breeding, Animal Doctrine Islam”
- “We don’t want Sharia (Islamic Law) which supports Rape and Murder”
- “The world is not for the Muslims only, it is for everyone”
7. Such religious insults are utterly against the state’s constitution and prescribed criminal laws. Such religious insults as the offensive term “Animal Doctrine” have become an abuse to a world religion, which was intentionally meant to traumatize its followers from diverse nationalities all over the world, so All Myanmar Government Recognized Islamic Religious Organization will not tolerate this, nor such will be accepted in any civilized society.
8. From these cases, it could be deduced that permission a protest with marching and holding banners which overtly described offensive terms against a state-acknowledged religion, which indeed is against the constitutional laws, calls for anurgent and better reinforcement of law and order.
9.Therefore, we hereby urge to take serious legal action to those people and organizations involved in offending Islam as soon as possible.
Signed by
- Al-Haj Maulana Yusof Vice-President Jammatul-Ulema Union of Myanmar
- Al-Haj U Nyunt Maung Shein President Islamic Religious Affairs Council Union of Myanmar (HQ)
- Al-Haj U Myint Tun President Muslim Youth Muslim (Religious) Organization
- Haji Kyaw Win Myanmar Muslim National Affairs Organization
The copy of this letter is sent to
- The Chairman of the Regional Congress, Naypyidaw
- The Chairman of the National Congress, Naypyidaw
- The Union Minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Naypyidaw
- The Union Minister, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Naypyidaw
- The Chief Minister of the Yangon Region Administration
- Chairperson of Pyithu Hluttaw Rule of Law and Tranquility Committee
- Myanmar National Human Rights Commission
