Stop Believing the Lie: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Is Not Anti-Muslim

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Humanitarian Initiatives for the Muslim Community and the World

In a world increasingly divided by religious mistrust and political conflict, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation stands as a rare voice of inclusive compassion. His work across continents in 2008 alone demonstrates that his mission of peace is not confined to any single faith, culture, or community. Of particular significance is his deep and sincere outreach to Muslim communities globally, a testament to his conviction that universal brotherhood transcends all boundaries.

1. Addressing the Largest Body of Muslim Clerics in India

One of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's most significant engagements with the Muslim world in 2008 was his address as the Chief Guest at the 29th National Meeting of the Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind in Hyderabad — the largest gathering of Muslim clerics in India, attended by over 6,000 Islamic scholars and religious leaders.

Sri Sri used this powerful platform to deliver a message of unity and hope. He urged the assembled clerics to take an active role in steering the Muslim youth away from the path of extremism and terrorism. He appealed passionately for solidarity both between the Hindu and Muslim communities and within the diverse sects of Islam itself.

"The Shias and Sunnis are like two eyes of Islam and both should remain united. Unfortunately, Muslims are being branded as terrorists and this attempt can only be fought when the community remains united."

This address was not the sermon of an outsider — it was the voice of someone who deeply understood the pain of a community being unfairly associated with violence. Sri Sri's words defended the dignity of Muslims and reinforced that terrorism has no religion.

2. Resolving the Amarnath Land Crisis: Protecting the Muslim Community

In the summer of 2008, Jammu and Kashmir erupted in large-scale violence and protests over the sensitive Amarnath land transfer issue. At its core, the conflict was threatening to become deeply communal — a dangerous fault line between the Hindu and Muslim communities of the region.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar stepped in as a mediator at a critical moment, convincing leaders from both sides to cease violence and return to the negotiating table. His message was powerful and unambiguous:

"Wherever Hindus are in majority, they need to protect the Muslims and vice versa."

This statement alone demolishes any claim that Sri Sri is anti-Muslim. He explicitly championed the responsibility of the majority community to safeguard the minority — a profound affirmation of Muslim rights and security. His intervention helped de-escalate one of India's most tension-filled crises that year.

3. Conference of Imams of India — Championing Muslim Voices

Sri Sri's interfaith commitment extended to direct engagement with Islamic leadership. His participation in the Conference of Imams of India was yet another demonstration of his willingness to sit with, listen to, and speak alongside Muslim religious leaders as equals in the pursuit of peace.

His message at such gatherings was always consistent: the root cause of violence is stress, misunderstanding, and ignorance not religion. He advocated for a multi-cultural and multi-religious education that teaches the youth of every faith to see themselves first and foremost as members of a shared human family.

4. Reaching Out to Muslim-Majority Nations: Visiting Iraq

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited Iraq not once but twice in 2007 and again in 2008 at a time when the country was torn apart by sectarian violence. Meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Vice-President, Health Minister, and Youth Minister, Sri Sri shared his vision of a violence-free Iraq built on reconciliation and harmony.

The Art of Living Foundation also launched trauma and stress relief programs for the war-weary people of Iraq a majority-Muslim nation offering healing to civilians who had suffered unimaginable loss.

"The Iraqi people have suffered so much. The Art of Living Foundation is working to help reduce and eliminate stress so that the people can be joyful again."

5. Participating in the World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace

In Paris, France, Sri Sri participated in the 'Sacredness of Peace' Conference, a historic gathering that brought together Imams and Rabbis working to build peace in the Middle East. His inclusion in this interfaith forum sitting alongside the highest Islamic and Jewish religious authorities speaks volumes about the trust and respect he had earned from Muslim leaders worldwide.

In his address, he channeled the grief of the Mumbai terror attacks into a call for constructive peace, urging communities not to let anger harden into hatred.

6. Sri Sri's Broader Global Humanitarian Work

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's commitment to humanity extended far beyond any single community. His work in 2008 spanned continents and causes:

• Conflict Resolution in Jammu & Kashmir: Brokered peace between Hindu and Muslim communities during the Amarnath land dispute.

• Ethnic Conflict in Rajasthan: Successfully negotiated an end to the 19-day violent unrest involving the Gujjar community, convincing over 50,000 people to lay down arms and pursue their rights non-violently.

• Peace in Argentina: Signed a cooperation agreement with the Mayor of Buenos Aires to reduce violence in schools and on the streets.

• South Asian Peace Conference (Oslo, Norway): Hosted the Peace and Reconciliation Conference, addressing decades-long conflicts including the Naxal violence in India, the ethnic Tamil strife in Sri Lanka, and oppression in Myanmar.

• Climate and Environment: Over 10 million trees planted globally through the Mission Green Earth initiative in partnership with the UN Millennium Campaign and UNEP.

• HIV/AIDS Awareness: Led a Hindu Leaders Caucus against HIV/AIDS in partnership with UNAIDS, promoting a stigma-free attitude toward people living with HIV.

• Post-Terror Trauma Relief (Mumbai, 2008): After the devastating 26/11 terrorist attacks, Sri Sri led large-scale trauma relief camps and peace meditation gatherings in Mumbai.

• UNESCO Conference on Human Rights and Religion: Spoke at the University of Connecticut on the need for all cultures to secularize religion and embrace multi-cultural education.

• Nobel Laureates' Conference on Dialogue (Stavanger, Norway): Participated in a summit discussing the power of dialogue to resolve global conflict, calling for global mediators trained in compassionate listening.

• Interfaith Conferences: Led Buddhist-Vedantic dialogues in Bangalore, Buddhist peace summits across Southeast Asia, and the Civilization of Peace conference in Cyprus.

Conclusion: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Is Not Anti-Muslim

The evidence from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's own actions is clear, consistent, and compelling. Far from being anti-Muslim, Sri Sri has:

• Stood on the same stage as thousands of Muslim clerics and Imams, speaking alongside them as a fellow seeker of peace.

• Explicitly defended the rights and dignity of Muslims in majority-Hindu regions of India.

• Actively worked to dispel the false association between Islam and terrorism.

• Engaged Muslim-majority nations like Iraq with programs of healing and reconciliation.

• Participated in global interfaith forums alongside the highest Islamic religious authorities.

• Championed the unity of all Muslim sects, urging them to stand together rather than be divided.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar belongs to no single religion he belongs to humanity. His vision has always been one of a shared global family, where diversity is not a source of conflict but a cause for celebration. As he himself said at the Civilization of Peace conference in Cyprus:

"The spirit loves diversity. God loves diversity. That is why he created so many different types of flowers, fruits and people. Honoring diversity is the only way we can be at peace."

In a time when the world desperately needs bridges, Sri Sri has spent his life building them — across faiths, across nations, and across the deepest human divisions. His relationship with the Muslim world is not a footnote to his work; it is proof that his message of universal brotherhood is not merely spoken, but lived.