The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL), in a letter to popular singer and music producer Iraj, has accused him of racial overtones in his song ‘Wassane Heene’.

‘We wish to bring to your kind attention that the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka has received several complaints regarding your song ‘Wassane Heene’ which has become very popular in your You Tube channel. Most of the complaints feel that this song has racists overtones as you have used the name of a Muslim doctor performing an illegal abortion,’ the Muslim Council said in its letter.

‘While we agree that you are attempting to pass on an important social message through your song and video, we raise strong objections to the use of a Muslim name for the doctor who performs the illegal abortion,’ the letter further said.

‘As you are aware, abortions are illegal in Sri Lanka unless a specialist on medical grounds recommends it. Further, Islam strictly forbids abortion.

The letter read further: ‘There has been a strong campaign by some extremist Buddhists accusing Muslims of promoting birth control among Buddhist girls. They have even been accused of giving free sweets that have contraceptives mixed to prevent pregnancy amongst Buddhist girl, thereby preventing the growth of the Buddhist population.’

‘These are baseless and unsubstantiated accusations, but a popular song like yours that includes an abortion by a Muslim doctor gives credence to this charge.’

The letter went on to request the singer to ‘edit out the Muslim doctor’s signboard’ and ensure that the video with the Muslim doctor’s name-board is ‘withdrawn from YouTube and all other social media domains.’

The video in question can be viewed below: