PROTECTING ISLAM IN DEMOCRATIC MALDIVIAN ISLANDS

[Maldives after being long in isolation is joining the international community in a big way. Its voice is heard in any discussion on global warming. It is a member in the UN Human Rights Council. The MDP has close relations with the conservative party of Britain. Many of the leaders have studied abroad. A large number of students ( large indeed for a small country like Maldives) are studying abroad and will return with some idea of western values. In such a globalised world, the returnees and those having modern education are sure to put pressure on the government to ease up. Extreme conservative views are likely to be resisted. Article 24 of the Constitution gives a right to the citizen to respect for his private and family life, his home and his private communications. Rigid enforcement will bring in a reaction sooner or later. (The Maldivian capital Male. Photo The Maldives Dot Com)]

By Dr. S. Chandrasekharan

Maldives is a hundred percent Muslim country. Article 2 of the Constitution stipulates that Maldives is a sovereign, independent, democratic Republic based on the principles of Islam. Article 9 d states that no non Muslim can become a citizen of the Maldives even if he or she fulfills all the other criteria like being born to the citizens of Maldives etc. The same article 9 b also stipulates that no citizen of the Maldives may be deprived of citizenship.

The President, Vice President and all the Cabinet ministers should not only be Muslims but also belong to the Sunni sect of Islam.

It therefore places a heavy responsibility on the present government in question to tread a careful path in developing democracy and at the same time ensure that there is no deviation of any citizen from his/her adherence to Islam. It is claimed that it is possible to establish such a balance and it will be interesting to see how Maldives under the present President Nasheed who in many ways is a liberal himself is able to manage his country and keeps it safe from extremism.

In the days of Gayoom, it was easy to keep track of visitors and prevent elements holding extremist views from visiting or from preaching, but in a democracy as is being practised now, it is difficult for the present government to prevent such visitors from coming in or from such persons making rigid interpretation of Islam.

The result is that on the invitation of religious NGOs within the islands or from the Islamic ministry itself, visitors with dubious background are allowed to come preach without restraint.

One Dr. Phillips a convert from UK? who was invited by the Islamic NGO- Jamiyyathulsalaf under the programme "The Call 2010, spoke to a big audience of the weakness of democracy and how it contributes to the "destruction of society." He was speaking in a country that is yet to find its feet fully in democracy.

Invitation to Phillips was part of the "jihad to establish in Maldives what the NGO considers as an Islamic State." Besides suggesting Islamisation of education, Phillips spoke of the dangers of secularism which according to him is the religion of democracies.

Praising Sharaih he made the claim of its necessity in Maldives and commented that "where heads are cut off, hands are chopped and people are lashed- such societies enjoy peace and stability." He was particularly referring to Saudi Arabia where he spent many years and claimed that he did not even have to close the main door of his house. Of course, he did not add that most of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attack were also from Saudi Arabia.

Another "world renowned" scholar/visitor was Dr. Zakir Naik who made a second visit to the country. His visit was at the invitation of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of the Government. Dr. Naik was banned from entry into UK when he wanted to give a lecture on "freedom of expression." There were media reports that Zakir Naik had spoken in praise of the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack and is said to have justified violence on those who committed violence!

What happens to a citizen of Maldives who renounces Islam? He cannot be deprived of citizenship and yet he cannot continue as a "citizen" either. This is a constitutional problem for which there is no ready answer and such a piquant happened very recently during the lecture of Dr. Zakir Naik.

In a question and answer session of Dr. Naik, one Mohamed Nazim from the audience publicly declared that he is not a believer of Islam. This response would not have risen if Dr. Naik had not asked personal and intrusive questions. The media reported that Nazim was attacked by some of the people in the audience and the Police had to intervene and take him into custody.

The opposition DRP called upon the government to take strong action against Nazim for apostasy. The local Islamic NGO went further and asked for death sentence for Nazim if he did not repent.

There is no law in the constitution by which action could be taken against Nazim nor could the citizenship be taken away as per article 9 b of the Constitution. The only way will be to apply Shariah under article 142 of the Constitution and death sentence under Shariah is the only remedy!.

In the end, after two days, Nazim publicly recanted and declared that the misconception he had, has been since clarified and that he wanted to become a Muslim again. It is said that the authorities sent two scholars to counsel Nazim when he was in custody and persuaded him to repent.!

One cannot forget the problems faced by the former Attorney General and Presidential candidate Dr. Hasan Saeed for his innocent book on apostasy and freedom of expression. My paper 2348 of 25th June 2008 may be referred to.

Nazim’s incident should not be seen in isolation. What is disconcerting is the way the political parties are using Islam as a political tool of furthering their political ends. In fact, the Presidential office did accuse the opposition of using Islam as a political tool. This is a dangerous trend.

A deliberate and a virulent campaign is being mounted against the poor Education minister Dr. Mustahafa Luthfee by the opposition and a no confidence motion is being sponsored in the Majlis against him. All he did was to make the study of Islam "optional" in class 11 and 12!

Dr. Luthfee was frank enough not only to admit that the study of Islam is not a favourite subject of the students, but also to declare that he is trying is to train the students to become world students rather than narrowing their perspective. One good thing is that the education minister is being fully supported by the President.

There is another case though not directly related to the current issue is still of interest on the role religion is playing and would continue to play in the lives of ordinary citizens. There was a simple case of one Sulath Abdulla who verbally abused a doctor in the IGMH when he was not satisfied with the treatment given. Criminal proceedings were taken against him by the State, but the court ruled in favour of Abdulla on the ground that "there was no law that prohibited such incidents." The State went on an appeal to the High Court which overturned the criminal court’s ruling and imposed a house arrest of four months on the accused. The reasoning given by the High Court was that where there are no laws, article 142 (a) mandates the judge to refer to Islam. The Judge went on to say that verbal abuse, threats and actions that would destabilise social and economic systems are prohibited in Islam! It is not clear as to who or how he got this interpretation or whether he is authorised to make such an interpretation of Islamic Shariah.

Maldives after being long in isolation is joining the international community in a big way. Its voice is heard in any discussion on global warming. It is a member in the UN Human Rights Council. The MDP has close relations with the conservative party of Britain. Many of the leaders have studied abroad. A large number of students ( large indeed for a small country like Maldives) are studying abroad and will return with some idea of western values. In such a globalised world, the returnees and those having modern education are sure to put pressure on the government to ease up. Extreme conservative views are likely to be resisted. Article 24 of the Constitution gives a right to the citizen to respect for his private and family life, his home and his private communications. Rigid enforcement will bring in a reaction sooner or later.

Protect Islam by all means, as it is mandated by the constitution, but avoid its misuse or use as a political tool.

* MALDIVES: Protect Islam, But Avoid using it as a Political Tool

Source: South Analysis Group. Please check Eurasia Review also