ART OF LIVING GURU RECEIVES I.S. THREAT LETTER

Kuala Lumpur, March 28: The Malaysian chapter of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living has received threatening letters from the Islamic State terror group, a close aide of the spiritual leader claimed on Saturday.

“Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is touring some countries in the far East and he landed in Malaysia on Friday and a few days ago while he was in Cambodia, we received threat letters from the IS, one was received by the hotel manager, one was received by the director of Art of Living and one by senior faculty and the content of the letter is very threatening saying if you go ahead with the programme, there will be consequences,” said Nakul, an aide of Ravi Shankar.

“The authorities have immediately notified the local authorities. We also contacted the Indian Embassy and we also conducted an investigation to find the source of the letter. We are going ahead,” he said.

The Art of Living had a yoga programme in the morning which was attended by 10,000 people and there is a programme under way in Penang attended by 70,000 people which Sri Sri will be attending, he added.

One of the threat letters, which depicts beheading of an unknown man, warns Ravi Shankar against stepping into Malaysia and other Muslim countries, a statement from the Art of Living said.

“We warn that if Indian Guru Ravi Shankar steps foot in Malaysia and any other Muslim countries this is what will happen to him (beheading),” the letter was quoted as saying.

The letters accused Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of meddling in Islamic affairs and converting Muslims to Hinduism.