M.I.M. Mohideen left a legacy of research work By Latheef Farook

Born in Akkaraipattu in the East and married to Khairul Inaya, daughter of prominent Colombo businessman and Deputy President of All Ceylon Muslim League Marhoom M.A.C.M. Saleh, well-known researcher and political activist M.I.M. Mohideen passed away recently at the age of 84.

He has been involved in Muslim politics and fighting for the political rights of Muslims for more than 40 years. These activities brought him close to respected Muslim political leaders such as T.B. Jayah, Dr. M.C.M.Kaleel, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr. Al Haj, Dr. Badi Ud din Mahmud, and M.H.M Ashraf, who founded Sri Lankan Muslim Congress. Later, he founded his own political party – Muslim United Liberation Front (MULF).

It was this close association with political activities which prompted him to become the General Secretary of the All Ceylon Muslim League headed by Dr. M.C.M. Kaleel.

Besides serving the community, Mohideen’s specialty has been to document Muslim issues from land issues in the north and east, northern Muslim refugees and the plight of Muslim Tsunami victims. As the Ceylon Muslim Documentation Centre Director, he has painstakingly documented the atrocities committed to Muslims during the three decades of ethnic war.

In November 2012, he produced a handbook to resolve Muslim grievances in Sri Lanka. This remains a very valuable reference document for politicians and civil society to understand the multi-faceted issues faced by the community.

In the wake of the devastating tsunami in December 2004, he prepared an extensive document on the destructions to Muslim areas in the east of the island. His Muslim Reconstruction and Resettlement Organization (MRRO) conducted an assessment survey of the damages to persons, residences and occupations of the Tsunami-affected Muslims in the Eastern Province.

As part of this program, he interviewed more than 72,000 Muslim victims of LTTE atrocities and tsunami victims. This document provides vivid details of Government discrimination against Muslim tsunami victims. One of the most valuable documents made by him was on the topic of land issues of Muslims in the east.

These activities prompted him to do intense research and prepare a roadmap to resolve anti-Muslim activities by the Sinhalese Buddhist supporters of the Government-backed ‘Bodu Bala Sena’.

The atrocities committed by both the Government and the LTTE to Mutur Muslims during the eight-day war, 1-8 August 2006, was documented in his work titled ‘Battle of Muthur – Ethnic Cleansing and Massacre of Muslims’.

He is the brother-in-law of well-known activist Mamoun Saleh, who was forced to settle down in California after his family business – M.A.C.M. Saleh & Sons at Bristol Building in Colombo Fort – was burnt down during the July 1983 riots, which reduced him overnight to penury.

Mohideen is no more but left his legacy in the form of his research works, which for generations to come, will help the community destined to live in the midst of racist elements backed by foreign Islamophobic forces. Mohideen was a great asset to the community which failed to recognise his hard work.