Sri Lanka Muslims urge UN to consider discrimination they face

Muslims in Sri Lanka have urged United Nations Human Rights Council members to consider the discrimination they face on the island nation ahead of a key vote on its human rights record.

The appeal came as UN’s top rights body prepares to vote on Tuesday on a draft resolution expressing “serious concern” over the “deteriorating” human rights situation in the country.

Sri Lanka’s government has faced a slew of criticism from rights groups and regional governments over alleged discrimination against Muslim population.

Of the 47 states set to take part in the vote in Geneva, several have Muslim-majority populations, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In particular, Sri Lanka’s decision last year to mandate that all victims of COVID-19 should be cremated sparked a backlash, with international human rights groups and UN rights experts condemning the move.

Muslim groups protested against the decision, which they say prevented them from following the burial traditions of their Islamic faith.