Pro-ISIS terror groups to be banned soon

Muslim women urged to refrain from wearing burqa; death penalty for terrorists

Government will introduce tough new measures to curb activities of pro- ISIS terror groups in Sri Lanka after last Sunday’s Easter massacre.

The Government will also promulgate regulations to proscribe the National Thowheed Jamaath ( NTJ) and the Jamiathul Millathu Ibrahim (JMI).

New regulations now being drafted will confer wider powers on the armed forces and the Police to deal with those engaging in terrorism. The regulations will deal with matters such as the issue or publication of statements or pictorial representations from terror groups or threats to cause death or bodily harm.

As a prelude to these measures, the Government yesterday appealed to Muslim organisations to persuade women to refrain from wearing the burqa, the black attire which conceals their identity. A security official said this had become inevitable in the light of the need to conduct security checks on persons and the possibility that terror groups will use the religious attire to carry out attacks.

The initiative to urge Muslim women to refrain from wearing burqa is being spearheaded by Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorale together with Muslim Affairs Minister Abdul Haleem. A Justice Ministry official said this was essentially a persuasive measure and added, “We hope they will co-operate.” Otherwise, we will have no option but to introduce legislation after consulting Muslim organisations.

Another strong measure being considered is the imposition of the death penalty on those found by the High Court to have committed terrorist offences.