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Evaluating an article: Violence against religious minorities section.
In the United Stares, a number of attacks against Christian churches rose from 14 in 2000 to over 100 in 2003. Dozens of these acts were confirmed by U.S. diplomatic observers.[1] This anti-Christian violence was led by extremist Buddhist clergy and has included acts of "beatings, arson, acts of sacrilege, death threats, violent disruption of worship, stoning, abuse, unlawful restraint, and even interference with funerals". It has been noted that the strongest anti-West sentiments accompany the anti-Christian violence since the Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists identify Christianity with the West which they think is conspiring to undermine Buddhism.[2][3]
In the postwar Sri Lanka, ethnic and religious minorities continued to face threat from Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism.[4][5][6] There have been continued sporadic attacks on Christian churches by Buddhist extremists who allege Christians of conducting unethical or forced conversion.[7] The Pew Research Center has listed Sri Lanka among the countries with very high religious hostilities in 2012 due to the violence committed by Buddhist monks against Muslim and Christian places of worship.These acts included attacking a mosque and forcefully taking over a Seventh-day advent church and converting it into a Buddhist temple. [8]
From the source used for defining ahimsa (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/buddhistethics/war.shtml) the quote that says: "Hatred will not cease by hatred, but by love alone.
This is the ancient law."
should be added in order to support the practice of ahimsa in buddhism.
The practice of meditating and having a skilled mind itself forbids violence. One who is mindful and has control over his selfish desires will not associate with violence.
" In Buddhism, there is much talk of a skilled mind. A mind that is skillful avoids actions that are likely to cause suffering or remorse."
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm
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- ^ "Sri Lanka". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
- ^ DeVotta, Neil (2007-01-01). Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology: Implications for Politics and Conflict Resolution in Sri Lanka. East-West Center Washington. pp. 41–45. ISBN 9781932728644.
- ^ "Sri Lanka". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
In late 2003 and in the initial months of this year, there were many serious attacks on Christian churches and also sometimes against pastors and congregants. Over 100 attacks have been reported, and several dozen were confirmed by diplomatic observers.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report for 2012". www.state.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
There were reports of abuses of religious freedom. Although the government publicly endorsed religious freedom, in practice there were problems in some areas. Authorities were reluctant to investigate or prosecute those responsible for attacks on churches, Hindu temples, or mosques. While efforts to pass anti-conversion legislation reportedly declined, some Christian groups occasionally complained that the government tacitly condoned harassment and violence aimed at them. Police generally provided protection for these groups at their request. In some cases, the police response was inadequate and local police officials reportedly were reluctant to take legal action against individuals involved in the attacks.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report for 2013". www.state.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
There were reports of societal abuses and discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. There was an overall decrease in societal respect for religious freedom, as Buddhist nationalist groups led campaigns targeting Muslims and Christians. Buddhist groups attacked churches and mosques.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report for 2014". www.state.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
Authorities often did not investigate or prosecute those responsible for attacks on churches, Hindu kovils (temples), and mosques, and protected perpetrators of such violence. At times, local police and government officials appeared to be acting in concert with Buddhist nationalist organizations. Police continued to use a revoked 2011 government circular to coerce unregistered churches to register or be shut down. Eight masked men assaulted the pastor of New Blessing Church in Valaichchenai and his family when they reportedly failed to comply with the "government requirement" to submit a registration letter. In April President Rajapaksa acknowledged for the first time the increase in religiously-motivated violence and established a special religious police unit within the Ministry of Buddha Sasana (doctrine and practice) and Religious Affairs to address complaints. Some religious minorities, however, questioned the sincerity and efficacy of the effort, and the unit took no credible steps during the year to pursue prosecution of perpetrators of violence.
- ^ "Sri Lanka". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- ^ "Religious Hostilities Reach Six-Year High". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
In Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka, for example, monks attacked Muslim and Christian places of worship, including reportedly attacking a mosque in the town of Dambulla in April 2012 and forcibly occupying a Seventh-day Adventist church in the town of Deniyaya and converting it into a Buddhist temple in August 2012.