Kerala's Salafis now look for 'real Islam' in SL

[Saradiel]

Sri Lanka has emerged as the favourite destination of a section of Malayalee Salafis who are on the pursuit of 'real Islam' and believe that scholars in Kerala lack correct understanding of the religion. At least three youths, who are suspected to have joined the Islamic State (IS), had told their relatives that they were going to a Hadees centre in Sri Lanka for religious studies.

The trio has been identified as Abdul Rahid Abdualla and Hafeesudheen from Kasaragod and Ezza from Palakkad. Intelligence agencies have not yet identified the Hadees centre or established that a group actually landed in Sri Lanka. But some of the youth had indeed called their families while they were there. Earlier, Yemen was the attraction for ultra-Salafis in Kerala.
So SL has replaced Yemen

Three years ago, at least 12 people from Nilambur in Malappuram had gone to the Darul Hadees at Dammaj in Yemen, which Salafis refer to as the 'Lighthouse of Islam'. Back home, the ultra Salafis had 'recreated' a true Islamic ambience at Athikkatt near Nilambur in Malappuram.Going beyond the teaching of traditional Salafis that three generations after Prophet Muhammad had a perfect understanding of Islam, they sought to imitate life in the times of the Prophet himself. They led a reclusive life, immersed in prayers and kept aloof from society. They even tried to start a goat farm to replicate life in Arabia in the 7th century. After the fall of Darul Hadees in Dammaj, the centre in Sri Lanka became popular with the ultra Salafis.

A Sri Lankan national was detained by the intelligence agencies in the state two years ago after he was found holding religious classes in Nilambur. He ( the Sri Lankan) had arrived on a tourist visa and was holding classes on Islam. We detained him and issued a quit notice.However, no case was registered against him," said an intelligence officer. Salman, a member of the group that had gone to Dammaj in Yemen, was abducted by Houthi rebels in Yemen and released later.

Darul Hadees evicted all non-local students as per the agreement reached between the Houthis and the Yemen government. The Dammaj Salafis in Kerala did try to establish a centre of their own at Nilambur. They even collected funds for the centre, but the idea did not materialise due to various reasons. Members of the group that is believed to have joined the IS mentioned to their relatives that they had a Markaz (centre) where they used to gather in Kozhikode. It is not the popular Markaz run by the Sunni member Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar, but a different one established by the Salafis, where they conducted secret classes on Quran. It is not yet clear that those who left the country are the members of the Dammaj Salafis in Kerala. But there is a close link between the ideologies of the two groups. Majority of the Kasargod group have a Salafi background and have frequented the Salafi mosques in Padne in Kasargod district of Kerala. (Source: timesofindia) - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/112375/Ke...feed&utm_medium=facebook#sthash.BRWHrpDU.dpuf

 

[Saradiel]

@Gibbs @HeinzG @Godman

@waz I remember you once said SLn muslim youth who come to UK get radicalised. Would you like to shed more light on that?

 

[Nilgiri]

There are extremist radicalisation centres in SL?

Is SL govt taking any action?

 

[Indika]

All the best ,now India is surrounded by radicals on all sides. If Sri lanka takes no action now , it will turn into another myanmar like situation.

They even tried to start a goat farm to replicate life in Arabia in the 7th century.

Next what ,Lanka will be turned to desert?

 

[Tshering22]

Sri Lanka has emerged as the favourite destination of a section of Malayalee Salafis who are on the pursuit of 'real Islam' and believe that scholars in Kerala lack correct understanding of the religion. At least three youths, who are suspected to have joined the Islamic State (IS), had told their relatives that they were going to a Hadees centre in Sri Lanka for religious studies.

The trio has been identified as Abdul Rahid Abdualla and Hafeesudheen from Kasaragod and Ezza from Palakkad. Intelligence agencies have not yet identified the Hadees centre or established that a group actually landed in Sri Lanka. But some of the youth had indeed called their families while they were there. Earlier, Yemen was the attraction for ultra-Salafis in Kerala.
So SL has replaced Yemen

Three years ago, at least 12 people from Nilambur in Malappuram had gone to the Darul Hadees at Dammaj in Yemen, which Salafis refer to as the 'Lighthouse of Islam'. Back home, the ultra Salafis had 'recreated' a true Islamic ambience at Athikkatt near Nilambur in Malappuram.Going beyond the teaching of traditional Salafis that three generations after Prophet Muhammad had a perfect understanding of Islam, they sought to imitate life in the times of the Prophet himself. They led a reclusive life, immersed in prayers and kept aloof from society. They even tried to start a goat farm to replicate life in Arabia in the 7th century. After the fall of Darul Hadees in Dammaj, the centre in Sri Lanka became popular with the ultra Salafis.

A Sri Lankan national was detained by the intelligence agencies in the state two years ago after he was found holding religious classes in Nilambur. He ( the Sri Lankan) had arrived on a tourist visa and was holding classes on Islam. We detained him and issued a quit notice.However, no case was registered against him," said an intelligence officer. Salman, a member of the group that had gone to Dammaj in Yemen, was abducted by Houthi rebels in Yemen and released later.

Darul Hadees evicted all non-local students as per the agreement reached between the Houthis and the Yemen government. The Dammaj Salafis in Kerala did try to establish a centre of their own at Nilambur. They even collected funds for the centre, but the idea did not materialise due to various reasons. Members of the group that is believed to have joined the IS mentioned to their relatives that they had a Markaz (centre) where they used to gather in Kozhikode. It is not the popular Markaz run by the Sunni member Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar, but a different one established by the Salafis, where they conducted secret classes on Quran. It is not yet clear that those who left the country are the members of the Dammaj Salafis in Kerala. But there is a close link between the ideologies of the two groups. Majority of the Kasargod group have a Salafi background and have frequented the Salafi mosques in Padne in Kasargod district of Kerala. (Source: timesofindia) - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/112375/Ke...feed&utm_medium=facebook#sthash.BRWHrpDU.dpuf

This is what happens when political correctness is allowed to cloud government policies and pollute politics and governance.

Kerala currently has elected a leftist-government which has historically a strong tendency to support such radicalisation through votebank governance.

If Congress was 7/10 on appeasement scale, LDF is 10/10.

It is rather sad that one of our most beautiful states are getting crazy through salafist funding and hawala money.

SL must take stern actions to prevent your country to become another loony hub.

 

[ranjeet]

After Bangladesh and now SriLanka I believe it's time for Nepal to come out in open.

 

[Tshering22]

All the best ,now India is surrounded by radicals on all sides. If Sri lanka takes no action now , it will turn into another myanmar like situation.

Myanmar is doing fine. Only Hitlery raised hell because her financial backers (read salafists) asked her to condemn Myanmar's actions.

Though their method was crude, but it was effective. They don't go into political correctness and rather get to the point.

Next what ,Lanka will be turned to desert?

That's precisely what happens when you take anything to the extreme; you end up adopting things that were not even mandatory, just to be considered 'ideal'.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

SL has to show same resolve as it showed against LTTE

 

[Saradiel]

There are extremist radicalisation centres in SL?

Is SL govt taking any action?

No. if we do we will be termed racist..so we dont

SL has to show same resolve as it showed against LTTE

forget it

 

[jha]

Hmm. Not good for one of my favorite countries. SL should nip this in bud. Kerala is almost a gone case now.

 

[HeinzG]

Hmm. Not good for one of my favorite countries. SL should nip this in bud. Kerala is almost a gone case now.

F*ck really? Is the situation really that bad in Kerala?

@Saradiel I have no hope that the situation would improve for the better with the Yahaplana government. Before their term ends they will turn this peaceful country into another bloody mess.

 

[jha]

F*ck really? Is the situation really that bad in Kerala?

@Saradiel I have no hope that the situation would improve for the better with the Yahaplana government. Before their term ends they will turn this peaceful country into another bloody mess.

Yes. Some areas are almost No Go for civilized persons. Sad state of affairs.

 

[Godman]

India is obliged to provide Intel on these people. SL cannot track every single Indian coming into SL.

 

[Gibbs]

India is obliged to provide Intel on these people. SL cannot track every single Indian coming into SL.

More of the question should be whats the SL state intelligence apparatus doing in monitoring the situation, Obviously these Indians are coming to some kind of a Islamic institution in the island that propagating extremist Salafist views.. How does such places operate ? Who funds them and whats the GOSL doing to prevent such situations ?

It's a major cause for worry, SL is a major tourist destination for people from Western Europe and Australasia, One similar attack like that of Dhaka, And just think of the consequences

Most Islamic extremist in SL originate from Tamil Nadu, With organizations such as Thawfeek Jamat operating openly with the current govt turning a blind eye, A recipe for disaster

 

[waz]

@Gibbs @HeinzG @Godman

@waz I remember you once said SLn muslim youth who come to UK get radicalised. Would you like to shed more light on that?

Yes mate. Back in the late 90's and early to mid 0 years, we had substantial numbers of young Sri-Lankan Muslim, male students come over. They at first came to our mosque, a Pakistani Sufi one, and seemed to appreciate the help and welcome offered to them. After a while we saw them dropping away one by one. At first we thought they had gone home, but one of them told us they didn't like our "practices'. After a short while all of them left and hired a hall for Friday prayers. They then tried to set-up a mosque, which we opposed and went to the council about, outlining our concerns at the type of people who were preaching at the establishment and that they were damaging community relations. The council refused their request, but they still continue to hold their own prayer circle.