Despite instructions from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to re-establish the Islamic system of marriage and property law among the Muslims in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs has so far failed to take steps to do so.

The President instructed Assistant Secretary Mahinda Gunaratna to write to the Director of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs earlier this month, when he received a letter from Triple FS Organization Executive Director K. Abdul Hameed, indicating the plight of the Muslims in the North and East on this aspect.

Hameed told The Island yesterday that Islam is enshrined in the Constitution and the Muslims in the North and East are ardent followers of the religion but are prevented from doing so by some Muslim leaders and by many rich parents.

He added: "Islam teaches to provide shelter to women in distress but it is not followed. As a result of this their properties too have been lost in the unethical guise of dowry which is a crime in Islam."

He said that violations of the two important aspects of Islam, marriage and property laws have reduced the number of brides, increased sins according to Islamic teachings and their virginity is not secured and even minors are made to seek employment abroad.

He lamented the inaction of the Ministry of Islamic Religious and Cultural Affairs.