Dealing with Islamophobia from within

Wittingly or unwittingly, we have undermined our unity by allowing different religious fanatical factions to take roots in our small communities of what used to be moderate Muslims. We now have to engage the separatists in meaningful dialogue and their fears need to be addressed and listened to, not brushed aside by branding them as outcasts. Criminal behaviour will have to be dealt with according to law.

Enter Islamophobia into our small community of just over 300,000 Sunni Muslims.


Islamophobia is a political term, though controversial is an increasingly accepted prejudice or discrimination against Islam or Muslims. The term has been revived after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Not long after Pope Benedict XVI gave a speech that enraged Muslims around the world, some people in Denmark called for a contest to depict Prophet Muhammad through drawing or caricature. The world is witnessing growing Islamophobia, a phenomenon that has existed between Muslims and the western civilization for a long time. Now the Muslims are practising Islamophobia among themselves.

Early this year, an article written by Aniya showed how sensitive Maldivian conservatives are to any criticism of religion. Aniya's article was thought-provoking and one can say she gave the wrong interpretation of the wearing of veil by women as revealed in Quran. To question in Islam cannot be considered as heresy and even if she is wrong she has a right to her opinion and those who don't agree with her will have be tolerant of different views. Instead she was condemned and forcefully dragged to Supreme Religious Council. All of us will have to learn to tolerate each other's differences. If a crime is committed, then deal with it according to law.

The Sultan Park bombing incident is a criminal act and will have to be dealt with as such. Separatist groups like the people of Himandhoo have chosen a certain way of life. We have to ask ourselves, is the problem with their way of life (how they dress, pray etc.) or are they also committing any punishable crimes? We need to deal with criminal behaviour such as getting married outside the law. If their intention is to deliberately stir trouble, that too will have to be dealt with. More of the same failed preaching by the Supreme Religious Council is not going to solve this problem. Knowledge without understanding can easily turn destructive as we are finding out in Maldives.

Teaching tolerance as Muslims and respecting diversity will be the peaceful way forward.