'Stop This War': Sri Lankan Muslims pray for Gaza victims
The prayers were followed by rallies to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.
More than 11,470 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died since the Israeli regime launched its offensive on Oct. 7 againt the Gaza Strip. About 2,700 people, including 1,500 minors, are missing and presumed buried under the rubble of bombed buildings, according to the UN.
“We organized special prayers today, with the recitation of qunut in sympathy with the Palestinian brethren who are dying daily with their little ones,” Basheer Latheef, chief trustee of the Wekanda Mosque in Colombo, told Arab News
“The prayers were conducted at all mosques ... Our sincere appeal to mankind is to stop this war,” Latheef added.
Social activist Shiraj Yoonus, who joined the prayers, said: “The volume of destruction we see, the lives lost, the limbs lost, the injured children, pregnant women ... they have been massacred indiscriminately,” he told Arab News. “If I see this (now), then how will the Day of Judgment be?”
Read More:
Sri Lankans of different faiths have been protesting almost every day against Israel’s war on Gaza and the oppression of the Palestinians. More than 150 parliamentarians also wrote an open letter to the UN secretary-general this week, urging him to take immediate action to stop the violence.
“We are determined to continue this protest until the Israelis stop their brutality,” said Dr. Mohamed Illyas, a former MP who participated in a rally outside the mosque. “We will take this message to the head of our country to make our voice heard in all international forums.”
Source: Agencies
