Muslims stood by us during Geneva vote - Mustapha
Technology and Research Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha thanked all the Muslim countries that supported the country at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva by voting against the resolution brought by the US and by abstaining from voting as well. “Our President is a true and longtime friend of Islamic nations,” he said.
Mustapha recalled that 15 countries had voted against the resolution and of these seven were Islamic nations. “There were Islamic nations among the countries which abstained from voting as well,” he said. He pointed out that President Rajapaksa had been supporting Palestine in their struggle for a long time, even before he became President. Mustapha said that the friendship Sri Lanka shares with Islamic nations have a long history that dates back many centuries. "Muslim traders who visited Sri Lanka in ancient times for commercial purposes got married to Sri Lankan women. The relationship therefore is very strong and linked socially, culturally and economically. We must also thank China and Russia for continuing to stand by Sri Lanka," he said.