Country: Sri Lanka

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An Indian Hindu drinks cow urine during an event organised by an event by a religious group promoting cow urine consumption as a cure for the new coronavirus in New Delhi, India (photo: picture-alliance/AP Photo)

COVID-19 pandemic

Science versus covidiots – Indiaʹs coronavirus challenge

Obscurantism is making it harder to prevent Covid-19, not only in Southeast Asia. Though India's lockdown was poorly planned, we must hope it will prove effective. By Aditi Roy GhatakMore

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Grief for more than 300 victims of the attacks in Sri Lanka (photo: Reuters/A. Dave)

Easter Sunday bombings

How did Islamist terrorism take hold in Sri Lanka?

How active are Islamist groups in Sri Lanka? Could they have launched multiple, well-coordinated terrorist attacks in different parts of the country without the support of global jihadist organisations? By Shamil ShamsMore

Islamic State claims responsibility for Sri Lankan bombingsIslam in Sri Lanka: Peaceful prospects for the Moors
Buddhist monks demonstrate in Rangoon in 2012 (photo: Getty Images/AFP/Ye Aung Thu)

Islamophobia in Asia

What drives Buddhist anti-Muslim feeling?

Islamophobia is rife in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, with Buddhist monks heading up the hate campaigns against Muslims. Yet the roots of the conflict run deep. A report by Rodion EbbighausenMore

Myanmar's denier-in-chief: ″An utter failure of moral leadership″ Muslims in India: Nothing like equal opportunitiesIslam in Sri Lanka: Peaceful prospects for the Moors
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena waves to supporters as he leaves the election secretariat in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9 January 2015 (photo: picture-alliance/AP/Eranga Jayawardena)

Interview with Basil Fernando on the election in Sri Lanka

Nurturing a spirit of reconciliation

Maithripala Sirisena was the surprise winner of last week's presidential election in Sri Lanka. He was swept to power on a platform of political reform and an end to corruption. Sirisena has promised to transfer many of the president's executive powers to parliament. Only days after his election, he took steps to increase press freedom. Roma Rajpal Weiss spoke to Basil Fernando, Sri Lankan activist and former director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, about the significance of Sirisena's victoryMore

Anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar and Sri Lanka: Surge of radical Buddhism in South AsiaInterview with Asma Jahangir, winner of the Right Livelihood Award: "Every restriction is based on religion"Indian Muslims' attitudes to the election of Narendra Modi: Apprehension and hope
A boy salvages belongings from a burned-down building in Htan Kone village in Myanmar's northern Sagaing region on 25 August 2013 (photo: Reuters)

Anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar and Sri Lanka

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Surge of radical Buddhism in South Asia

Nationalist Buddhist monks in Myanmar and Sri Lanka are playing a key role in instigating hatred and provoking violence towards the Muslim minorities in both countries, claiming that such action is necessary in order to protect Buddhist race and culture. By Roma Rajpal WeißMore

The Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar: In the shadow of an iconRohingya Muslims in Myanmar: The spectre of ethnic violence reappears Islam in Sri Lanka: Peaceful prospects for the Moors

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Overshadowed by conflict: Ramadan has come to an end in the midst of escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis. Still, about 100,000 Muslims came together on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Thursday, according to media reports. The compound, which is home to the iconic Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, is the third holiest site in Islam

Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr as Ramadan ends

Ramadan, the Islamic holy month marked by fasting, has come to an end. Now Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr despite the pandemic and violent conflicts. Here's a look at how some people are marking the festival. By Uta Steinwehr