how should we deal with the problem of religious extremism?

It seems after the terror blast the government of Maldives is tightening the grip on all islamic groups.

a bill is to be submitted to the parliament on making the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs an independent institution,rather than being a toothless tiger (as the president of the council , Sheikh Raseedh puts it)... [read more]

Under the despotic law of 'protecting the islamic unity of maldives' the president have asked the Islamic council to ban face veiling in public, dressing or behaving in a manner which resembles -in any way- religous denominationalism.In other words they trying to find a way to make things hard for all islamic groups in maldives [read more].

This type of reaction from the government is nothing new. this had happened many times, crack down on wahhabis they call it... they would arrest people and shave off their beards, force them to keep their trousers below ankle (which,according to them is like being in hell),and even take off face veils of women (which will be for them as if removing their clothes).This kind of unacceptable acts of the government is doing nothing except for fueling the wild fire of extremism.This will move elements from more moderate islamic groups in to the stricter and therefore more dangerous people.What i am trying to say is , a bearded guy or a preaching bearded guy is not our business, not a threat to our national security. but bearded or not...a terror minded jihadi muslim is a threat to our country and we should keep an eye on them...when necessary punish them.but a crack down on all bearded or faceveiled people is not just...and very stupid.

Extremism is a serious issue which have to be dealt wisely and professionally.it shouldnt be like the old majeedhee magu paving project or nerugovvun projects our government carried out.because this is no ordinary thing we are dealing with.religous ideologies or thinking cannot be killed by force.it should be killed (if needed) by better ideologies.You all know they have read the story of ashaabul uhdhoodh from Bukhari collection of Hadiths.In that story people are burned alive for what they believe but they prefered death to giving in.This (the strong faith in what they believe...what ever they may believe) is what drives a young boy,well educated, loved by every one... changes in to a hated monster that wants to kill people.Strengthening the 'islamic unity' itself is a threat to our future. This kind of 'strengthening' will take the rights of islamic groups and will create a violent reaction. A group of religious extremists Gaafu Alifu atoll Maamendhoo are not praying with the common congregation ... now they are praying in the mosque after the common congregation...should we attack them too?!What ever his intention is...Sheikh Shaheem of Adalat party have showed that these people can be softened down by talking to them or discussing religious issues with them instead of releasing a canonic way of doing everything from the president's office and punishing those who disobey.

It is the hypocrisy of Maldives government when it comes to religion ...that have created a breeding ground for jihadi islamic movements and islamic extremism in maldives.For example; we are told that we should follow Quran and Hadith...but we are lied about them.Lies which are so evident that even the kids will know some thing is wrong in those fatwas.Now when this happens children turns to islamic books or websites originating from saudi arabia or saudi funded groups, looking for answers.These will lay a foundation for the wahhabi islam.Now from this stage a person may develop in to anything...just a salafi,a follower of political islam (hizb-ut-tahrir/ikhwanul muslimeen?) or to a houri seeking jihadi muslim.I am not saying that it is their right to preach terrorism. but we cant define what the limits are ,as long as we try to strengthen the 'islamic unity' by force.Let it come by its own (if there is any such thing as an islamic unity) .

I think what we need to cultivate is not islamic unity and hatred for other religions.what we need is an free society, a free environment in which religious tolerance,humanism, and brotherhood would prosper.For this to happen we need social change as well as political change.To bring about this we need education,awareness,change of policies and a secular state or atleast a state with freedom of religion.A state which wouldn't threaten to kill a person for choosing his or her own way of life or belief or for discussing a religious topic freely.Religion have to become more spiritual rather than being a 'dividing-in-the-name-of-uniting' force.Hate and violence would give nothing but hate and violence.The government should understand that these islamic groups too are maldivian citizens, faceveiled women and bearded men are our people..parents to our children...if you jail them beat them up just for what they believe or how they dress..it would be very unjust.I have known so far that .... two leaders of the dotcom group (the guys behind the bomb plot) have fled Maldives.This is what we need to concentrate on... bringing the violent and the terror breeding to justice and tackling the extremism problem ideologically.

they exist and is a threat to our nation,what have we done?

Maldives is undergoing democratic changes (sweeping reforms?hehe) they say.but the society is undergoing declinations of various forms among which is religious extremism.It have been there for a long time,but after the tsunami there was an epidemic outbreak of fundamentalism.it is not about a group of people,it is about a large sector of the Maldivian society.and it sure is not only about burugaa,beard and the jokes MDP propaganda machines create (like the one which said that madharusathul aaliyaa is a fundamentalist 'madrasa').

Now i can see that the media have finally taken a step forward,now they are writing about this part of our society which have been long ignored.I am glad that our information minister also have talked on this and is willing to take the issue from mvblogosphere to the mainstream media.And the Foreign Minister Dr.Ahmed Shaheed have also said that the fact that some Maldivian students abroad are taking up training in the camps of militia groups is a matter of concern.But is it really a matter of concern? really,really?!...i doubt. because foreign minister's remarks came only after an article about this appeared on slate.com which quoted Attorney General Hassan Saeed as saying; "Obviously it is the biggest threat to this country".This article have interviews from extremists and the journalists' visit to an 'illegal' mosque in Male' (which is called dotukom, just opposite to masjidhul zikuraa-bappaafulhu miskiy,majeedheemagu).It is sad that a foreign journalist wrote these stuff while Maldivian journalists are busy covering the never ending series of MDP muzaaharaa and government crackdowns.

Meanwhile haveeru daily have reported on 2 nd June2007 that 11 people were arrested in Male' for trying to conduct a 'unofficial' Friday prayers at a small mosque near Galolhu Football stadium (Masjidul Sultan Adil) . And there were some clashes between the police and the fundamentalists in which a police was attacked by a pavement brick and it is reported that due to this attack the police guy had a crack on his skull.And there were also arguments and confrontations between the fundamentalists and other civilians gathered at that area.3 of the 11 people arrested were below 18 years of age.

All these news are not actually 'news',they are 'old' stories. these have happened several times,this have been going on for a long time.Seperate Congregations,Concluding all Maldivians (except themselves) to be infidels-who have to be beheaded,police arresting minors for religion related 'crimes' and torture them,shaving beards with chili sauce,child abuse in the name of islamic marriage,wife beating,going to Pakistan for jihad...etc.How ever the first time maldivian media recognized that these people exist and reported about them was (i think) about the 'illegal' mosque in Himendhoo island.

For a long time these people have been ignored by the society,the government and also the media.Most people never cared about them, called them wahhaabees or haabees and made fun of (arguing with them is some kinda entertainmenty for most people) some of them who are always very much eager to preach their 'message'.And the the government would every once in a while randomly arrest all 'bearded'men and 'face veiled' women and sometimes torture them.The government found a useful enemy in them.Every now and then gayom would be preaching "some very few people among us do this and that in the name of islam...this is not like this. this is like that...dont worry i am here to protect and guide you"...but now we know this is more serious. more than what we thought.

And there is a ray of hope now. at least the government have now agreed that there are threats, that there are Jihadis trained at Pakistani training camps (especially Lashkar-e-Taiba camps) in Maldives.Foreign minister,Information Minister and the Attorney General have admitted...but is it enough?the government knew about Ali Jaleel and his gang... but they were left to do what every they wanted... they are still free...there are active 'narrow minded, terror minded' groups in Maldives...even other than the Ali Jaleel group... they have connections to global terror groups in the Middle East and Europe.and they are growing day by day....young maldivians are converting in large groups... and what we did so far is professing a known fact?

buddha shaped giant flowerpot confiscated and destroyed.

Jazeera Daily have reported that a Buddha shaped giant flower pot imported by Four Seasons Resorts Maldives (yeah,the same guys who were in the limelight for Buddhas and topless dancers at a Birthday celebration ) have been confiscated by the Maldives Customs Service.The flower pot which was imported to Maldives on 13th of this month have been confiscated after the Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs gave a verdict confirming that it is indeed an idol, the newspaper reported, citing a senior customs official.Jazeera reported that this 2 feet flower pot was made of a cement like material.

"Even if it was a flower pot it looked like an idol(used for worhip),so we queried the Council (the Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs).They decreed that it must be treated as an idol.And that is why we refused to release it from the customs service."Jazeera quoted the official as saying.According to Jazeeraa,the official also confirmed that the pot will be demolished in the same manner they demolish all other confiscated objects, and the people who imported it have also been notified about this.Further more, Jazeeraa reported that after the newspaper published some pictures of this pot,The Ministry of Tourism have said that they will attend to this matter very soon.

[a picture of the flowerpot published on jazeera daily.]

Halal Earnings from West for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Dhivehistan

This is about the recent controversy over a giant Buddha statue built on a Maldives Island (BBC , D.O ) for Sir Philip Green's birthday party(Guardian).

This time the Giant Buddha on Baa atoll Landaa giraavaru island was 'legal'.but some years back Fareesha O'Shea of the famous Maldivesculture.com website (An Australian lady of Maldive descent) was arrested for arriving from Bali (Indonesia) with a "Buddha used for Christian worship".And a police officer who did some kinda training in India got a trophy with an image of a hindu deity...it was confiscated from airport (most probably...the customs officers handed it over to the army and they burnt it safely...in a way that qaumee ebbai vanthakan and zamaanussure dhivehinge medhugai onna ukhuvvaiy therikan will not be harmed.haha.)




what kind of 'islamic fiqh' is this?Maybe this is 'gayoomee fiqh'.

there was a similar fatwa given by uttama (Maldives’ Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim). It was on a religous radio programme aired by VOM (i think the name of it is Olhigandu..it was aired every Friday night) .there was a Q&A session,and one Maldivian guy questioned about Christian tourists visiting the Islamic center and Mosque in Male'.Apparently the guy was not happy with some of them wearing crosses and crucifixes on their neck.And uttama gave the fatawa.

"It is haraam to carry a Cross into mosques which are the houses of God on earth.If any one goes into a Mosque carrying a big cross...we must not allow him to do so,we must send him out immediately.but, as for tourists wearing small crosses on their neck,that is ok.there is nothing wrong in it."



So thats it!Small cross is halaal.Big cross is haraam.Small Buddha is haraam and big Buddha is halaal.Size Matters! and i dunno if it is a big or a small krishna or ganesh that is haraam...i will have to ask uttama.

maybe it is not the size....it is the "Halal Earnings from West for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Dhivehistan"

yeah.thats it.These doublestandards are there for some reason.Sir Phillip Green paid big money.the tourists paid.but normal maldivian citizens dont.thats why they dont have the right to worship or even carry or even talk about any other deity. and ...who the hell will carry a cross on his shoulder into the islamic centre.ehehe.

So it is all about our economy?not really...it is about pumping money in from the west and pumping em out to the swiss accounts of big fat businessmen and big bad politicians.Alcohol is also banned for Maldivians but Legal for tourists...and yeah...also topless dancers.but i DOOO think maldivians have a right to enjoy freedom of religion.It was Gayom who took away this freedom,and i want him to give it back!He have tortured Maldivian Christian converts and anyone who goes against 'Golhaa Islam' for almost 3 decades.its time we talk about these rights and question the crazy fatawaas given by uttama and gayom.And it is time we start thinking freely about EVERYTHINHG.what do you think?does maldives need freedom of religion?Is it just, to force all maldivians to be muslims when they are all not willing to?do we need to go for a referendum in deciding this?or should all the maldivians be barred from the right to freedom of religion.....and these rights be 'sold' only to those who can pay enough money?

haveeru beethaa and...

Haveeru is the best media outlet in Maldives?Yes,many people are now saying this .. i have heard many people saying that,including the opposition MDP's propaganda websites.even the most hardcore MDP activists agree that, to some extent Haveeru is now an independent news paper,who's reports,news and views are unbiased.See how minivannews described haveeru here...

"Haveeru is the leading daily in the Maldives, and the only paper that carries comprehensive world news, classifieds, listings and advertisements. It dominates the press due to its wide range of coverage in both Dhivehi and English.

The newspaper maintains close ties to the government, through its owner Mohamed Zahir Hussein, a former sports minister who has studied with President Gayoom. Hussein has begun to take a back seat on the editorial policy at the paper, which has previously been doggedly loyal to the regime. The paper recently revamped its website and is beginning to dip its feet timidly into the hot water of more balanced press coverage.[read more]."

But i cant agree....Haveeru cannot be 'sometimes biased' and 'sometimes unbiased' in reporting and presenting the news,it has to be on either side...there is no standing in the middle! ....there's a lot of coloring in haveeru reports...and it does not allow viewers to comment freely (on its online version).which is now in beta...and i say;the whole company is in a state of 'beethaa' for the last few years....that is from the time they got out from the lines of miadhu and aafathis (which are not popular and publishes only the news approved from the president's office ).Now in this beethaa state, i have encountered a lot of problems in commenting on its online edition.

One day i wanted to comment and 'Oh my God!' there is no 'comment on this article' link in this very special news.Yes,it was a news article about gayom...well i was not going to write anything like 'golhaabo isthiufaa' or any base or unethical comment.i was trying to comment on what i thought about the article,but it seems he is far above that...he is in a position where the citizens cannot even comment about him...well atleast for this haveeru beethaa, he is god-like and resting in sidhurathul munthahaa!.

And there is another problem ..something more technical.That is ; i cant comment using xp fonts...i mean most of the time it doesnt even work with firefox and i have to open ie if i want to comment.well thats another problem...guess nattu will fix it soon as he have said.

but the incident which made me write this post is that, today i had another problem with the beethaa.that is ; when i published a comment on one of the articles it appeared sometime later....but not in my name...not the way i published it! Many comments that i have made have been denied in the past also...but this time...they denied it and published a more 'acceptable' version which they made-up.hmm....but i dont remember using any coarse language.i used the modern,ikhlaastheri,abui dhivehi (with a lot of arabic influence and gayomic words).so wtf is with them this time.??

ok now lets not worry...here is the solution...we have an alternaive...the internet is very democratic...and our voices can be heard now...we dont need the damned beethaas!

This time i was trying to comment on this article...It was about a case where some 7 men were accuse of gang rape, regarding an incident in G.A. Maamendhoo island in year 2005.But only one of them were convicted and he also got a very light punishmednt...that is thauzeeru with 91 lashes together with banishment (most probably he will send a letter to the authorities and have his banishment changed to an island where he can feel more like home or maybe to his own island where he will be living happily with hsi family!) for 2 years.It seems that there was 'not enough' evidence against the others.any way...my comment was not about the court's judgement...it was about haveeru news .I said in my comment that; by naming the rape victim,Haveeru daily has done a great harm to the victim and also to her family.i said it is an act which is against the ethics of journalism.i said that during this time when the country is moving forward in imporving the media..it is very important to take notice of this and the likes of it...

so that was the unpublished comment....and i have even more now.i have seen that haveeru and most of the other outlets using the gayomic term 'badhu akhulaaqee' to describe any illegal sexual activity or any sexual crime.now atleast they use the term 'rape'....but i remember an article about karnal nasheedh of MDP...who was accused of child abuse..he was just accused , but haveeru went on to disclose even the most minor details of this alleged act in one of its news reports.now that is what i call a politically motivated reporting.but after that many times i have heard of 'badhu akhulaaqee'....and it is good that this time they have given the names of the convicts ....but the name of the victim?her adress?no...i dont think it is good...

but you know...this beethaa haveeru didnt give her age!!! they got her name and adress for the public....which is not necessary and i believe is something they must hide.but they couldnt get the age of the victim who was snatched and taken in to the woods and gang raped!So thats it...haveeru is really in a state of Beethaa!!!errr...can the victim file a lawsuit against haveeru and seek compensation ,under the new 'aburaabehumuge gaanoonu' (the law of defamation in maldives)???

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