Daily news paper Miadhu has reported that an alleged missionary named ‘Thomas’, has left the Maldives along with other four Maldivians who allegedly supported Christianity.
The newspaper reported that Thomas, during his times of stay in the Maldives, met with some Maldivians who supported Christianity.
“Anti-Islamic work is becoming widespread and people are concerned that it may spread further unless the responsible sources do enough to prevent it,” Miadhu said.
Miadhu reported that missionary activities are now “widely conducted” in the Maldives.
Correction: A previous version of this article translated Miadhu’s article as saying that “many people are concerned that religious unity among Maldivians is becoming weak”. Miadhu informed Minivan News that a more accurate translation is: “Anti-Islamic work is becoming widespread and people are concerned that it may spread further unless the responsible sources do enough to prevent it.”
Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed, speaking in a meeting at the Maldvian Democratic Party (MDP) headquaters, has announced that the government will return Maldivian detainees from Syria.
Dr Shaheed said that he would soon travel to Syria with the main purpose of releasing the Maldivian detainees from Syrian jails.
”The main reason of scheduled trip to Syria is to release the Maldivian detainees from prison,” Dr Shaheed said. ”Hopefully, we can release these prisoners and bring them to the Maldives.”
He said the detainees had been kept there for a long time.
”We will bring them and hand over them to their parents,” he said.
He said the Foreign Ministry was a ministry which worked “in transparency making everything visible to the people”.
Speaking in the meeting, Dr Shaheed responded to claims made by the Peoples Alliances (PA) that the current government was trying “to please white people.”
”When the Maldives ran for a seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council, 185 countries voted for us. Are they all white people?” questioned Dr Shaheed.
”Last week the United Arab Emirates (UAE) asked us if they could establish a Maldivian Embassy. Are they also all white people?”
Dr Shaheed did not mention who the detainees were or what they had been arrested for.
Spokesperson for the Foreign ministry Irushadha Abdul Sattar said the ministry was trying to return two Maldivians detained in two different prisons in Syria.
Irushadha said that the two men were detained in Syria due to drug related charges.
”one of them has been detained since 2003 and the other since 2008,” She said.
Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom said if the detainees were Maldivians and innocent people, “the government should not wait a single minute without helping them.”
”If there are innocent Maldivians detained anywhere the government should help them,” Dr Mausoom said.
The Maldivian government has recently announced that it will resettle two detainees from Guantanamo Bay jail, creating public outcry. President Mohamed Nasheed dismissed concerns and claimed it was a “humanitarian” act.
Parliament’s National Security Committee is now investigating the case of the detainees the Maldivian government allegedly agreed to bring in to the country, which some MPs claimed might disrupt the peace and sovereignty of the country.
Dr Shaheed and State Foreign minister Ahmed Naseem was on an official trip and was unable to get a comment, while the President’s Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair is on leave.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned “in strongest possible terms” Israel’s act of aggression against a flotilla of ships attempting to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza
Israeli soldiers raided the flotilla of six vessels carrying 663 activists from 37 countries, which was intending to break Israel’s blockade and deliver aid into Gaza.
Nine people were reported killed aboard the main vessel MV Mavi Marmara during the assault in international waters, while up to 60 activists and 10 Israeli soldiers were injured. Surviving passengers have been detained by Israel.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry said the incident was “a clear act of aggression against civilians, especially civilians engaged in humanitarian work”, and called for an “immediate independent international enquiry so that the facts may be ascertained, accountability established, and justice secured for those who have tragically died, as well as their family and friends.”
“There can be no excuse for such violence, which represents a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and a step-back from universal humanist values,” the Ministry said, in a statement.
Yesterday the UN Security Council said it “deeply regrets” loss of life and injuries during the military operation, “and condemns those acts which resulted in the loss of at least ten civilians.”
The Security Council further stressed that “the situation in Gaza is not sustainable”, and Israel to provide “unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.”
“The only viable solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an agreement negotiated between the parties,” it said, claiming “that only a two-State solution, with an independent and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors, can bring peace to the region.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as “a clear case of self-defense”, reiterating that “Israel cannot allow the free flow of weapons, rockets and missiles to Hamas in Gaza.”
“We have no problems with the people of Gaza. We do have a conflict with the terrorist regime of Hamas, supported by Iran,” he said.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry denounced the blockade as “not only morally wrong as it inflicts unjustifiable harm on innocent civilians, but also short-sighted in that it breeds mistrust, animosity and hatred – exactly the emotions that led to this tragedy and to the perpetuation of the Middle East conflict.”
The Maldives joins many other international voices deploring Israel’s aggressive reaction, including Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia where President Mohamed Nasheed is currently visiting.
“The Australian government condemns any use of violence under the sorts of circumstances that we have seen,” Rudd said.
One Australian citizen was reportedly shot in the leg, while reknown Australian journalist Paul McGeough is among those currently detained by Israel.
Minivan News rejects absurd claims published on the Adhaalath Party website on May 30 that we are running “a campaign” against corporate support of a cultural event organised by Islamic NGO Jammiyyathu Salaf, ‘The Call’ 2010.
The Adhaalath Party fails to distinguish between ‘coverage’ and ‘support’ of an event, in this instance a letter-writing campaign by feminist group Rehendhi. Minivan News has no links to Rehendhi and this represents a leap in logic akin to suggesting that by covering a tsunami disaster, we are promoting tsunamis.
The Adhaalath Party further claims that Minivan News is conspiring with Rehendhi to promote “national sissyness” and “lesbian relations among women”.
Minivan News has translated and published these allegations in their entirety, allowing our readers to make up their own minds about these ridiculous and bizarre claims.
We also understand that as homosexuality is a criminal offence in the Maldives, such false allegations are strong grounds for a defamation suit.
We were disappointed to learn today that DhiTV has aired this Adhaalath Party statement without contacting Minivan News for comment. ‘Both sides of the story’ is a central tenet of journalism and Maldivians have a right to demand a higher standard from their news media.
Furthermore, Minivan News also rejects DhiTV’s echoing of the Adhaalath Party’s claims that we are connected to the current government.
This is due to frequent confusion with the now defunct Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) newspaper ‘Minivan Daily’, a confusion DhiTV is aware of but has seen no need to clarify.
Unlike most media outlets in the Maldives, Minivan News has no active links with the current government, former government or big business interests, and is entirely self-funded through banner advertising. This allows us to report fairly and impartially on all issues affecting the Maldives, without fear or favour.
A squad of police officers yesterday destroyed the outer wall of Galolhu Masodige during a special operation.
The police squad, with their faces covered with black masks, and demolished the outer wall of Masodige making part of the house visible to people walking down the street.
Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that police special operation was conducted in relation to the multiple stabbings that occurred in Male’.
He said that two men were arrested yesterday from Masodige.
”Police found sharp objects and weapons that could potentially used for assault and battery when police checked Masodige,” Shiyam said. ”We are checking several places in order to find people who violated laws and to find weapons used in assault.”
Police forced a Minivan News journalist out of the area and disallowed photos to be taken.
Photo: ‘The Day the Wall of Masodi Town Fell Down…’ by Hilath Rasheed
A Somalian man has narrowly escaped being buried alive after he was found comatose along with with five other men drifting in a small boat near the island of Makunudhoo in in Haadhaalu Atoll.
Makunudhoo islanders who rescued the men yesterday said it appeared the men had been drifting in the tiny 12-15 foot vessel for three months with little food or water.
An island official who assisted with the rescue told Minivan News that the boat was recovered yesterday at 5:30 pm by a fishing vessel, and that the men were in very bad condition when they were brought ashore.
”Everyone was shocked and felt sympathy for them at first glimpse,” he said. “There was no food, water or medication in the boat.”
Images and a video of the incident (below) showed the men badly emaciated and apparently suffering from severe malnutrition.
Word spread quickly across the island and nearly the whole population gathered near the beach to see the boat as it brought ashore.
Five of the men were rushed to the island’s health centre but the sixth man, curled up inside the boat’s anchor locker, was left on board as police assumed he was dead.
”We informed police of the incident immediately,” the official said. “They told us to leave the dead body and to take the rest of the men to health centre. They arrived later that night at 7:30 pm – people were really upset they came so late.”
The official told Minivan News that police tried to bury the ‘dead’ man immediately but were prevented by island elders.
”Elderly people denied the body from being buried on the island because of an old legend that claims the island might become haunted if a rotten dead body was buried,” he said.
The man was left in the boat’s anchor locker until this morning.
However when the islanders came to take the man’s body to be washed prior to burial, they were surprised to see him moving.
“Police insisted the body was not alive but was moving due to the motion of the water,” the official said. “But after a while he opened his eyes and started uttering something in his language which no one understood.”
He said everyone was shocked and rushed the man to the health centre.
”People so angry with police because they confirmed the body was dead without doing a medical check-up,” the official said. ”The poor man could have lost his life being buried alive after surviving three months adrift.”
He said all six men had now been admitted to hospital and their condition was improving.
”One man can stand up now,” he said, ”but someone from the Maldives who understands Somali is yet to be found.”
Islanders who spoke with the six men have been able to ascertain that the men were adrift for three months, after losing control of the boat and their bearings.
”We are all very sad that we left one man without medication and food, assuming he was dead,” the official said.
‘Everyone on the island quickened to help them, provide clothes and fragnances for them at the time they were brought, but left one man behind.”
He said some people had begun speculating that the men were pirates while others suggested they might have been fishermen became lost, although no weapons or fishing equipment were found on board.
”The boat was 12-15 feet long but had a 40 horse-power engine attached, which is enough to run twice as fast as a high speed gulf craft.”
Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that the man’s body had been handed to police who were not required to confirm his death.
He confirmed the men were Somali and said police were now investigating the case.
”We have been unable to get some information from them because of their medical condition,” he said. ”At the moment it’s very difficult to reveal any details.”
Farhat Naik, wife of well known Islamic speaker Dr Zakir Naik who recently conducted a talk on ‘Misconceptions of Islam’ in Male’, has been admitted in ADK Hospital after falling from a banana boat yesterday.
Spokesperson for the Islamic Ministry Sheikh Ahmadulla Jameel said that Mrs Naik was not injured but was unable to swim and so was admitted to ADK as a precaution.
”She was not injured,” Ahmadulla said, ”but we brought her Male’ because she might have been injured as she did not know how to swim, and she is a very special guest for Maldivians.”
”She will be discharged today very soon,” he added. ”Dr Zakir Naik and his family will depart today.”
Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that police had also been informed of the case.
He confirmed the incident had taken place on a resort but declined to give further details upon a request by the Islamic Ministry.
A staff member working at Coco Palm Boduhithi Island resort meanwhile confirmed that the incident happened yesterday afternoon. He said that she suffered no injuries.
Dr Zakir Naik and his family arrived to the Maldives on May 25 and was due to leave on May 31. Naik delivered two speeches during his stay in the Maldives, which attracted over 10,000 people. His wife also spoke on Islam last week.
A Maldivian man who publicly declared himself an apostate during a speech by Islamic speaker Dr Zakir Naik on Friday evening has repented and offered a public apology on Television Maldives (TVM).
Mohamed Nazim gave Shahada – the Muslim testimony of belief – during a press conference held at the Islamic Ministry today.
He also apologised for causing “agony for the Maldivian people”, and said “major misconceptions I had regarding Islam have been clarified.”
He further requested that the community accept him back into society.
After describing himself to Dr Naik as “Maldivian but not a Muslim” on Friday night, Nazim was escorted from Maafaanu stadium by Islamic Ministry officials into police custody. Several officers were attacked for trying to protect Nazim when members of the crowd turned violent, calling for his death.
The following day the Islamic Foundation NGO issued a press release calling for Nazim to be executed under Islamic law if he failed to repent.
Apostasy is considered a grave sin under Islam, although scholarly opinion varies as to its punishment: in response to Nazim’s question, Dr Naik clarifed that the penalty was only death “if the person becomes a non-Muslim and propagates his faith and speaks against Islam. Just because a person who is a Muslim becomes a non-Muslim, death penalty is not the ruling.”
Speaking after the press conference today, Deputy Minister for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Farooq told newspaper Haveeru that Nazim had reverted to Islam “on freewill” after the Ministry had sent two scholars to counsel him while he was in custody.
“[After] two days of counseling he said that his misconceptions had been clarified and that he wanted to become a Muslim,” Sheikh Farooq told Haveeru.
President of Islamic NGO Jammiyyathu Salaf Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohamed Ibrahim told Minivan News he was very happy to hear of Nazim’s repentance and thanked God, adding that incident has “damaged the good name of the country.”
He further said that there were “many people trying to introduce other religions to the Maldives underground”, and that he would “release the names of these underground people at the appropriate time.”
”The incident was the result of a lack of Islamic studies in the school curriculum,” he said. ”That is one of the reasons why such things as this happen.”
The Adhaalath Party said it welcomed Nazim’s repentance and congratulated him for re-embracing Islam.
Police have meanwhile yet to reveal whether Nazim has been released from custody.
Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said the court had decided that Nazim should be released, but he would not reveal whether police had yet done so.
“Police will analyse the situation,” Shiyam said, regarding Nazim’s safety.
President Mohamed Nasheed will depart this evening on his first state visit to Australia, at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The President is to be given a full guard of honour when he is received in the Australian capital of Canberra, where he will meet Rudd and the Governor General Quentin Bryce.
Nasheed will also meet with Maldivian students studying in Canberra.
Press Secretary for the President Mohamed Zuhair noted that the Australian government will fund most of the costs associated with the trip, aside from airfares.
“Our country is becoming increasingly important on the world stage. People now listen to what the Maldives has to say on issues of international importance,” Zuhair said.
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