By P.K.Balachandran

Colombo, July 22,2015: Mohammad Niram alias Abu Suren Silani, the Sri Lankan recruit to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) who was killed in action in Syria recently, had told his family prior to his departure for the Middle East war zone, that he was going to Turkey to do relief work among the victims of the war.

Hilmy Ahamed of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) told Express here on Wednesday, that Niram’s family appears to have believed him because he had done relief work in Sri Lanka when the tsunami struck the island in December 2004.

“While the immediate family was OK with his going for relief work, his in-laws were opposed to it, even if it was only for relief work,” Ahamed said.

Niram was the Principal of a Muslim-run “International” (or English medium ) school in Galewela in Kandy District in Central Lanka till December 2014. According to Mohammad Sahabdeen Mohammad Samir, the Principal of the school, Niram had said that he was going to Mecca on pilgrimage but never came back.

“There was no contact with him after he left,” the media quoted Samir as saying.

A married man, Niram was living in Colombo before he supposedly left for Turkey.

“The family had come to know about his death in combat only after someone sent an ISIS video about it,” Hilmy Ahamed said.

Other reports said that a relation of his had this information in his Facebook. While in the ISIS, Niram had acquired a new name, Abu Suren Silani.

SL Muslims Condemn ISIS        

On Tuesday, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) roundly condemned Niram’s involvement with the ISIS and said that the ISIS’s actions are a gross violation of the Sharia as well as Humanitarian Laws.  

“Islam is a religion of mercy and tolerance that totally prohibits the taking of innocent lives. There is no theological basis for any crimes to be committed through terrorism or violence,” the MCSL said in a letter to Lankan President Mithripala Sirisena.

While emphasizing that these are actions of misguided individuals, mercenaries or fanatics, the MCSL called upon the President to conduct a thorough investigation, punish all who may have violated the laws of the land, and ensure that no more Sri Lankans are misled into joining any terrorist movement.

“As civil society representatives of Muslims, we commit to help in any investigation and action that would be initiated by the government,” the letter said.

Ahamed however added that Lankan Muslims believe that the ISIS is a creation of the US and Israel to tarnish the image of Muslims.

“There is photographic evidence of a top US leader meeting ISIS leaders in 2011,” he claimed.

EOM/PKB