| Written by Ajay Makan, Minivan News, on 16-10-2007 18:12 |
The Adhaalath Party has warned the Government not to “punish all Muslims,” as President Gayoom prepares to unveil an action plan to deal with extremism in light of the Malé explosion.
The Chairman of the conservative Islamic party told Minivan News the Government’s heavy handed approach to religious critics in the past has encouraged extremism, and urged President Gayoom not to repeat the same mistakes.
Saudi educated scholar Dr Mohamed Didi said the Government must empower Islamic clerics, including his Adhaalath colleagues, to “reform” dissidents, rather than punishing them.
Breed Mistrust
The Government has moved aggressively against religious dissidents in the aftermath of the September 29 terrorist attack which injured twelve tourists.
More than sixty men have been arrested from a radical mosque on Himandhoo; two other dissident prayer groups have been raided; and firebrand preacher Sheikh Fareed has been detained.
Didi accepts, “there is a problem,” with some young Maldivians preaching radical ideas and encouraging violence.
But he said the Government’s response to the blast has been “punitive against the religion in general,” and warned, “harsh measures will only breed mistrust in the Government and radicalise people further.”
Didi’s appeal comes days after President Gayoom warned extremists will not be tolerated, “in the name of freedom and human rights,” and predicted clashes with the Human Rights Commission and parliament over the severity of his proposals.
A Government action plan is reported to include draconian measures such as enforcing a ban on the full veil, and barring Maldivians from travelling to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for religious education.
Political Tool
Didi has added to prominent voices accusing President Gayoom of ignoring the warning signs of extremism.
“Deviant ideas have been creeping into the country for several years,” the scholar says. “But the regime has done nothing to address this, because it uses Islam to tarnish people who oppose it.”
Up to a hundred people have been arrested under the Religious Unity Act since the Malé explosion. In the 1990s the same act was used to arrest several preachers, while police frequently shaved the beards of religious dissidents in detention.
“The Religious Unity Act and the way it is enforced is divisive," Didi says. “The Government has used religion as a political tool to control Maldivians for many years.”
Empower Scholars
Instead of punishing whole communities, the Government must empower Islamic scholar to reform “misguided individuals.”
Scholars’ body, the Supreme Islamic Council, “has no authority,” Didi says, echoing complaints made by the Council’s chief, Sheikh Rasheed, over the weekend.
The Supreme Council must be established on an indepdent footing and granted “full authority” to give religious instruction on islands, and reform the Islam curriculum.
Scholars should research and reform the Religious Unity Act so it unites rather than divides Maldivians through Islam.
And Saudi and Pakistani educated scholars, the custodians of “true Islam" according to Didi, should lead the fight against extremism, rather than being seen as part of the problem.
“It is ridiculous to ban travel to Pakistan or any other country,” Didi says on the possibility of a bar on Maldivians studying in Pakistan madrassas.
Muslim First, Maldivian Second
Following the Malé explosion attention has focused on breakaway prayer groups, who refuse to follow Government prescribed rituals or use official mosques.
The Government says such prayer groups “import” radical foreign practices. But Didi says “differences in prayer are negligible,” and the Government reaction has been excessive.
He also criticises Government use of terms such as “moderate” or “Maldivian” Islam to promote a Government approved version of religion.
“There is only one Islam, no adjective should be attached to this,” he says. “I am a Muslim first, and a Maldivian second. This is an attitude shared by all Maldivians and the Government should be the same.”
Government Support
Adhaalath has been working to promote understanding of true Islam in the Maldives’ islands since the party was established in 2005, Didi says. And Adhaalath is now ready to help the Government fight extremist ideas.
Adhaalath has requested access to the sixty Himandhoo islanders detained following a Government siege of the Dhar-al-Khuir mosque. The police have rejected previous attempts by the party to engage jailed dissidents and there had been no reply this time.
The party says its efforts to block extremism have born fruit on some islands. Adhaalath scholars were involved in a mission to Marmendhoo to persuade dissidents to return to the Government mosque, the only breakaway group reconciled without arrests.
“Adhaalath scholars have been working to reform people who have isolated themselves on several islands,” Didi says. We can be successful, “but we need the Government to support us, and stop coercive action.” Courtesy: Minivan News
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