The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has forwarded a case to the Prosecutor General against four persons suspected of destroying historical artifacts in February at the Maldives National Museum.
Around 35 exhibits — mostly images and carvings of Buddha — were destroyed when half a dozen men stormed into the museum amid the political chaos of February 7, and ransacked a collection of coral and lime figures. They included a 1.5-foot-wide representation of the Buddha’s head – one of the most historically significant pieces at the museum.
The vandals destroyed “99 percent” of the Maldives’ pre-Islamic artifacts from before the 12th century – most of them beyond repair – according to the museum director Ali Waheed.
An official at the museum told Minivan News following the incident that the group “deliberately targeted the Buddhist relics and ruins of monasteries exhibited in the pre-Islamic collection, destroying most items beyond repair.”
“This is not like a glass we use at home that can be replaced by buying a new one from a shop. These are originals from our ancestors’ time. These cannot be replaced ever again,” the official said.
The vandalism was reminiscent of the Taliban’s demolition of the great carved Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in early 2001 and raised fears that extremists were gaining ground in the Maldives, the New York Times reported in February.
Police Sub-Inspector Hassan Haneef told Minivan News that no information could be revealed at this time regarding the identity of the four suspects. A number were detained at the scene following the incident, however no formal arrests were made at the time.
Prosecutor General Ahmed Muizz said on Wednesday that a decision on the case will be made within the next 15 days.
The attack on the museum came on the same day President Mohamed Nasheed was ousted in an alleged coup d’etat following weeks of anti-government protests.
In the weeks leading up to Nasheed’s controversial resignation, religious and other opposition parties accused him of undermining Islam in the country and being influenced by Jews and Christians.
Nasheed’s government clashed regularly with religious parties now linked to the government, over issues that included not condemning United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay for her suggestion that flogging be abolished as a punishment for extra-marital sex, and any operating agreement with Israeli national carrier El Al Airlines.
AFP reported former President Mohamed Nasheed as saying that the vandals included Islamist hardliners who had attacked the museum because they believed some of the statues inside were “idolatrous”.
The monuments gifted by the South Asian countries to the Maldives ahead of the 17th summit of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation SAARC, hosted in Addu city were also denounced as idolatrous monuments and vandalised, including the monument gifted by Pakistan.
Removal of the contentious monuments was one of the five demands of the December 23 protesters, including religious groups and opposition, who also demanded that the government prohibit Israeli airlines from operating in the Maldives.
After coming to power, the ruling coalition withdrew the demands in the Majlis.
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send 'em all to jail where they belong!
Dr. Waheed.... You are supposed to be an educated man... where do you stand now.... ? Where has your Liberal education led you to ? With Afghan Talibans? Shame on you.
No respect for others, disgusting! Put them jail or better still stone them as the beardies would demand! They are in the dark ages!
These criminals should be beheaded, a swift Islamic punishment. Why protest idolatry, worshiping the black stone of Caaba is also idolatry!
Why on earth would you even need to debate that ****? Lock them up for life. This is an even greater crime than the coup itself. They've destroyed our history, they've destroyed our past; this is unforgivable.
Well-meaning though they were, the effeminate offspring of our MalDeviant harlots could not even get the job done. Some of these abominable statues are still intact. The rest are weeping and moaning about useless statues of Oogah-Boogah Hindu Gods being destroyed.
Repulsive!
Is truly a miracle that anyone here has enough testosterone to grow a beard.
Our harlots should be flogged for the atrocious job they have done raising our young. The are weak in faith and effeminate in conduct. They should all be garrotted on the spot!
Nauzu Billaaah min Zalik!
Well-meaning though they were, the effeminate offspring of our MalDeviant harlots could not even get the job done. Some of these abominable statues are still intact. The rest are weeping and moaning about useless statues of Oogah-Boogah Hindu Gods being destroyed.
Repulsive!
Is truly a miracle that anyone here has enough testosterone to grow a beard.
Our harlots should be flogged for the atrocious job they have done raising our young. They are weak in faith and effeminate in conduct. They should all be garrotted on the spot!
Nauzu Billaaah min Zalik!
@Mohamed Waheed on Wed, 23rd May 2012 9:14 PM
"Dr. Waheed…. You are supposed to be an educated man… where do you stand now…. ?"
You must've not been listening to the short little chap. He's repeatedly said he has no opinion on anything whatsoever. He will "fully participate and agree with everything anyone has to say and fully supports the democratic process and is continuing the work of the government of President Nasheed and the policies are the same..."
Is that clear? I thought so...
This case will be followed very closely from abroad!
to be fair, if citizens do not want something no one has the right to enforce it upon them
Lest anybody think otherwise due to my harsh words, be assured that I was thoroughly elated on that glorious February day.
I did not mean to appear ungrateful to our brave Mujahideen, and I was hasty to call them effeminate and their mothers as harlots.
My toungue is occasionally too abrasive and I shall do penance for my intemperance.
Witness how the false Oogah Boogah Gods could not protect themselves against our brave mujaheddeen?
What a glorious day that was! I shall celebrate on that day next year: the triumph of Tahweed over Shirk!
(Though there were still some left intact. Hence, my dissapointment.)
Alhamdulillaah!
when you nutsheads have the slightest of idea that this could have been done by some bearded people, the punishment of islamic sharia which you brand is not befitting to the 21st century comes out instantly as the perfect solution. but when there are talks about people consuming drugs, alcohol, illegal sex or everything else which is haraam and for you at that very moment islamic sharia is too inhumane to punish them. @ gaand e whatever you like to call yourself, i swear to god, you will be the first one to wet your sorry pants when someone with a beard comes facing you. may allah bless all who participated in is making these "najis" stones into sand. @hani proof of our forefathers committed shirk is not something you clowns should be proud of to keep them in glass boxes. past, history, culture my A*s
"The Muslims turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single Buddhist burn down a mosque, kill a Muslim, or burn down an embassy.
Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people, and destroying embassies. This path will not yield any results. The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them."
Ali speaks the truth! Hear hear!
Who other people to tell us what is to be kept in OUR museums? If it goes against out faith, It goes away
simple as that
The veneer of civilization is very thin in the Maldives. If some Egyptian fanatics would destroy the archaeological remains of Ancient Egypt the Egyptian state would take swift and ruthless actions. these are the treasures of the nation. It is not for a few lunatics high on religion to decide whether the totality of the national heritage of a country is to be destroyed.
N, you have no right whatsoever to say "OUR museums". Not everyone in Maldives shares that extreme faith you defend that is careless in bringing shame to the nation in front of the civilized world.
Did all Maldivians officially agree to the destruction of the Historical Archaeological heritage? Was there a referendum giving every Maldivian the right to vote whether he or she wanted to destroy those statues? Finally, why was this iconoclastic group so small and why the masks and the hurry?
You are representing only a very extreme fringe that hates art and history.
Idols shall not be allowed dho Imranbe'
For this act of mindless vandalism, I bestow upon Maldivians the title of STUPIDEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.....as only stupid people destroy their own cultural heritage.
It is always sunni muslims who show no respect for their pre islamic past.....the Taliban (sunnis) destroyed the 1800 year old Bamiyan Buddhas.....Pakistanis (more sunnis) have destroyed their buddhist and hindu heritage including artefacts in their museums.....and now the dumbass Maldivians (yet more sunnis) have done the same. Clearly disrespect for other beliefs is an important tenet of your faith.
This intolerance is a result of the constant brainwashing of young muslim minds into believing that islam is the best thing to happen in the History of Mankind.....that muslims are God's Chosen People.....and that all non muslims are worthless garbage.
In India we cherish all of our history.....buddhist, hindu, islamic and colonial.
We Indians have so much to teach you primitive islanders about respect and tolerance.....LOOK AND LEARN.
Throw them all into the fire. We'll see if ibrahim's god saves them or not. Kalaange thakah nasru dhee! Kalaangee thakah nasru dhee!
Origallo: kekeke *rubs hands together*
Thanks to all Maldivians trying to preserve the history and the heritage of their country. Where is the government and administration on this issue ??
Technically none of the pieces destroyed can be considered an idol. For none was a stone that was or had been the center of worship. The crude mindset of a fanatic, however, would not bother to verify this facts in the rashness to destroy. The Maldivian language doesn't help to have clear ideas either, for the words for doll, idol, statue, sculpture and Gautama Buddha are one and the same in the island tongue. Where confusion is rife crassness reigns.
"For this act of mindless vandalism, I bestow upon Maldivians the title of STUPIDEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET…..as only stupid people destroy their own cultural heritage."
I could not say it better than the above quote !!