The Sheikhul Islam Office (SIO), known as the Office of the Chularatchamontri, has asked the premier to investigate and take action against a movement on social media led by a controversial monk for instigating hatred against Islam.
The SIO on Monday submitted to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha via authorities a statement dated Nov 6 and issued apparently in response to media reports about the movement headed by Phra Apichart Punnajanto, a Buddhist monk instructor at Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok.
Phra Apichart proposed that every time a monk is killed, a mosque be razed. He posted his messages on his Facebook page.
In short order, the Sangha Council ordered Phra Apichart to stop. The monk closed his Facebook account "temporarily", claiming he would return when Buddhists want him.
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In the statement, the SIO said it was responding to recent news and information disseminated on social media and apparently aimed at triggering conflicts between Muslims and their Buddhist fellows in the country.
Phra Apichart Punnajanto, an instructor at Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok, started the controversy when he demanded a mosque be razed every time a Buddhist is killed. (File photo)
The messages shared online also included a claim that a number of Thai Muslims were conspiring to "seize Thailand" through various means, said the statement.
Under the circumstances, both the SIO and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICT) were very concerned that it would instigate misunderstandings about Muslims in Thailand, it said.
The statement added that SIO and the CICT insisted that no Thai Muslims had ever had such an idea or plot.
Although the vast majority of Muslims in Thailand live in the southernmost provinces, a large number of Muslims also live in all other regions of the country, said the statement.
The SIO also called for the state agencies concerned, particularly those dealing with security and communication technology regulation, to launch a probe into rumours spread online against Muslims and take legal action against the people behind them.
Meanwhile, Somchai Surachatri, spokesman for the National Office of Buddhism, warned social media users to use their discretion before sharing or liking content that insults other religions as there are many anonymous groups trying to use social media as a weapon to spread communal disharmony in Thai society these days.
"Muslim and Buddhist communities have lived peacefully side by side for centuries, so people need to learn that not everything posted on social media is the truth.
"People who share these false rumours should delete them to create harmony in society," Mr Somchai said.
Mr Somchai said the National Office of Buddhism is now also planning to cooperate closely with monk deans nationwide to monitor social media sites.