According to the Associated Press, Sri Lanka on Saturday announced a ban on burkas and the closure of more than 1,000 Islamic schools in the country.
“The burqa has a direct impact on national security,” said Sarath Weerasekara, Minister of Public Safety, about the one-piece, full bodysuit worn by some Muslim women.
He added: ‘This is a sign of religious extremism that has recently emerged. We will definitely ban it. ‘
Weerasekara said he had signed a paper on Friday submitting the burka measure to the cabinet of ministers for approval. He also addressed the closure of Madrassa Islamic schools, citing their failure to comply with national education policies, according to Reuters.
According to the US State Department’s 2018 report on international religious freedom over Sri Lanka, the island nation in South Asia officially recognizes four religions: Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.
The country’s population is 9.7 percent Muslim, compared to 70.2 percent Buddhist, 12.6 percent Hindu and 7.4 percent Christian.
The report states that Sri Lanka’s government officials’ practiced systematic discrimination against religious minorities, especially Muslims and converts to ‘free’ (non-nominal and evangelical) Christian groups.
The last time the burka was banned in Sri Lanka was in 2019, after Islamic militants killed more than 250 people after bombing churches and hotels, according to Reuters.
Other countries have also introduced burka bans in recent years, including Switzerland and Denmark.