The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called on President Abdulla Yameen to repent for insulting Islam by allegedly likening the Maldives to heaven in the afterlife.
The statement comes after Yameen on Thursday urged a visiting Saudi Arabian trade delegation to “get warmed up” for heaven in the afterlife by investing in paradise on earth, the Maldives.
“As Muslim brothers, we all strive to go to Jannathul Firdous [paradise]. While we have a paradise in the heavenly Maldives, I urge all Saudi business people, if you are seeking to go to Jannathul-paradise in your afterlife, why don’t you get warmed up for that? Paradise is here in the Maldives,” the president had said in a speech in English.
The MDP claimed Yameen had directly compared the Maldives to heaven in the afterlife and said that his remarks are demonstrative of the “concerning level” to which Islamic unity has deteriorated in the Maldives.
“This party advises and calls on President Yameen to repent with Allah and apologize for his statement that has insulted the holy religion of Islam,” a statement issued on Friday said.
However, the President’s Office in its own statement clarified that Yameen’s comment that “paradise is here in the Maldives” simply meant that the country’s beauty is unparalleled in the world.
Yameen’s comments were an invitation to the Saudis to invest and gain returns from the beauty of Maldives, the statement said.
The President’s Office also slammed newspaper Haveeru for its “unprofessional” coverage of the speech, alleging the report titled ‘President calls for investment in heaven-like Maldives to go to heaven’ had misled citizens.
The reporter either did not understand English or the report was a deliberate attempt to incite hatred, the statement said.
President Yameen is committed to freedom of press, the statement said, and will not persecute reporters or pursue charges at court. However, he “does not welcome attempts to incite fear, mislead public and create disorder,” it continued.
The President’s Office has called on media oversight bodies to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed garnered similar controversy in April 2013 for comments he made in a speech in Denmark calling for an alternative Islamic narrative to counter radical views.
Yameen’s ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) at the time claimed Nasheed had in fact called for an alternative to the Quran and Hadith.
“A former president of a 100 percent Islamic nation speaking in such a fashion, abusing the religion of Islam and mocking Prophet Muhammed is a derogatory act that brings disgrace to the country in front of other Islamic nations,” read the statement.
The religious Adhaalath Party (AP) also held a demonstration in protest and called to “hang Nasheed to death”.
The PPM and Adhaalath’s opposition to Nasheed formed part of wider allegations that MDP would destroy Islam in the country.
They claimed Nasheed had “placed idols” in Maldivian lands – a reference to the SAARC monuments gifted to the country by South Asian nations during the 2011 SAARC Summit hosted in Addu Atoll – and had “given our assets to foreigners” – a reference to the concession agreement to manage and upgrade the international airport granted to Indian firm GMR.
Related to this story
President Yameen urges Saudis to invest in Maldives and “get warmed up for” heaven
Maldives divided by “Islamic” and “anti-Islamic”: former President Gayoom
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So Anni is now Ameeru mumineen, the 'Commander of the Faithful' againt the the infidels..
"Maldives a taste of paradise", also how about "Maldives, a paradise on earth", and Maldivians "angels". SO people from all over the world can come to paradise & meet angels.
Anni please....
Don't be a hypocrite.
You should now offer support for the SP show.
Even if others speak with twisted mouths, the one that I would expect not to do that, is you. Don't speak as though you believe the religious crap and its mesmerism on the populace.
Nasheed has two faces. He is really cunning man and will never hesitate to do anything for then sake of his own benefit.
Nasheed thinks that calling this will turn everyone in Maldives against Yameen and then Nasheed will be put as the President.
He is a Pschyco guy and having a mental disorder that need to be teated urgently.
Hero
it is understood that people who carry so much anger and hatred for others are your so called psycho and mental.Chill out boy,you simply cannot be a hero just because you call yourself a Hero.Heros are born and not made,unluckily your nemesis Anni is one who was born
To those people who's whining about the 'religious issues' - if Nasheed had said the same thing, the 'takaatakaa' pigs would be out screeching for his head on the street.
He has a right to point out this bs when the attack dogs of the state engage in double standards.
MDP has done what every opposition party in their position would have done given the same circumstances, especially when they were hounded out of office using the 'laadheenee' card. But this only highlights exactly why religion should be left out of politics.
Ask yourselves what harm is there in talking about paradise if it is every Muslim's aim to seek paradise in the after-life? Then, also ask yourselves why Anni should not ask for an alternative Islamic narrative to counter radicalism when the whole world is on the brink of another world war because these radical jihaadhists have been allowed to spread their ideology unhampered since an alternative viewpoint had not been provided?
Far worrying though should be the answer to the question what exactly being a Muslim means for Maldivians today? From everything that is happening, it seems like the peaceful, beautiful Islam that we practised for centuries has now been turned into a far more sinister, scary religion!