Renowned Qari (Quran reciter) Hussain Thaufeeq has been charged with possession of pornographic material by the Prosecutor General’s Office, on top of multiple counts of child molestation.
The Criminal Court held the first hearing of the pornography charges this morning.
Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem confirmed to Minivan News today that additional charges had been pressed against the famed teacher.
“Police discovered [the pornographic material] on his computer,” he said.
Qari Thaufeeq, widely considered to be the best Quran reciter in the Maldives, was arrested in August last year on allegations of sexually abusing a number of under-aged girls.
Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam told Minivan News at the time that Thaufeeq was arrested in connection with “many” child sex offences against girls, “some cases going back a long time.”
Prior to his arrest, Thaufeeq hosted a daily Quran teaching programme with school children on state television every night after Maghrib prayers. He also led Friday prayers and conducted religious sermons.
Under the Child Sex Offenders (Special Provisions) Act of 2009, the penalty for child sex abuse is 10-14 years but can be extended to 15-18 years if the accused was in a position of trust with the children he allegedly abused.
In child sex abuse cases, the court usually exercises its authority to conduct closed hearings, excluding journalists and the public from observing the trial.
While the Criminal Court initially extended Thaufeeq’s detention in police custody to 15 days following his arrest on August 17, 2010, the court later transferred to the Qari to house arrest.
Thaufeeq was also sacked from his post at the Centre for the Holy Quran by the Islamic Ministry after it received reports of misconduct.
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@ Grand Mullah
There is nothing wrong in Quran, Bible or Gita. They are all holy books and contain almost same "good" stuff (Dos & Donts) as per socio-politico conditions of countries where they originated. But, today what we follow is Petro-Dollar Islam propagated by Saudis through their agents (rigid Mullahs). There are so many changed that should be changed in Islam but these Mullahs will not let us. Things should change with time those who do not, they rot. The most peculiar thing in Islam is that they dont want to change. They still want to follow centuries old principles that today are meaningless. This is the root cause of all problems that Islamic world today face.
Well said Zeenat, I couldn't agree more. Muslims do not questions the teachings of the Koran which is why they are the most backward of all the world's people. There is no equality for muslim women even in the twentyfirst century!! Saudi Arabia has just given women the vote!! Maybe in another hundred years the ruler will allow women to drive and in a further hundred years women will be able to conduct their own affairs without a 'mehram'. Wahabi islam funded with petrodollars is keeping muslim societies in the dark ages. It will finish off the Maldives long before global warming makes an impact.
@ Grand Mullah
our prophet Mohamed (PBUH) did marry Aisha when she was 7 years but I would like to point out to you that during that time, even the so-called cultured Europeans & the rest of the world married off their daughters at such young ages. Take a look at the history, this custom continued in some countries well into twentieth century & is still practiced in eastern European countries, India etc. It has nothing to do with religion.
I completely agree with @Larry[geordie]Dodds. How many Catholic priests have abused alter boys & other children entrusted to their care? How many people have sacrificed their daughters to temples etc due to religious beliefs?
It is not the religion but rather the monsters who hide behind the cloak of religion & commit these atrocities that should be blamed.
Even the headline of this article is misleading...he was not only charged with possession of pornographic material...reading such a headline would make a lot of youth angry as there are people who think it is no big deal...if so at least one third of the population should be convicted.
The focus should be on the fact that a man that parents trusted to teach their children abused them, not on the religion or on minor facts.
Remember; Even if clergy commits crimes, they'll get off easy if they swear fealty to the imperialists.
Now, an average joe gets caught? The full force of the so-called law crashes in on 'em.