ACJU has no power to issue rulings against Sufis: Witness

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama (ACJU) had been issuing fatwas (rulings according to Islamic law) since 1979 against Sufis, considering the ACJU incorporation Act (No 51/2000), but the Act does endorse the organization to issue any fatwas against Sufis, Alhaj Abdul Jawaadh Alim Waliyyullah Trust President Simak Sinnalebbe informed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks yesterday.

Testifying before the Commission, he said that the Parliament did not give such powers to the ACJU through the Act to take decisions against Sufi Muslims in the country.

“The ACJU has been taking measures to quash Sufi Muslims since 1979 and according to the fatwa issued by them in 1979, they mentioned that Sufis are those who had left Islam,” he said.

The witness said that almost 95% of ACJU members were wahhabists and they were using the 1979 fatwa to justify attacks on Sufi Muslims.

He also said that the wahhabists were trying to position them in higher ranks of the government.