According to this news article, quite a number of human bones had been discovered in a private residence near the Maffannu Cemetery, Male'.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Do we really respect the dead?
Despite all the great changes that have occurred in the world in technology and communication, the process of showing respect to the deceased has remained the same. It has been said that one can measure how civilized a culture is by the way its dead are treated.
According to this news article, quite a number of human bones had been discovered in a private residence near the Maffannu Cemetery, Male'.
According to this news article, quite a number of human bones had been discovered in a private residence near the Maffannu Cemetery, Male'.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Paulo Coelho seeks questions
International best selling novelist Paulo Coelho whose books include 'The Alchemist' wants your questions. A video clip of Paulo Coelho's request from the World Economic Forum is below.
To answer the Davos Question go to: http://www.youtube.com/davos Paulo Coelho's YouTube channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/paulabraconn~
Transcript: "For these past ten years I've been participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos. As a writer, as a human being I think that everybody in the world is committed to improve the state of the world. Therefore during this year we would like to have your question, your thoughts. How can we, as a society, meaning everybody, really improve the situation of the world. Please upload your answer to http://www.youtube.com/davos."
To answer the Davos Question go to: http://www.youtube.com/davos Paulo Coelho's YouTube channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/paulabraconn~
Transcript: "For these past ten years I've been participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos. As a writer, as a human being I think that everybody in the world is committed to improve the state of the world. Therefore during this year we would like to have your question, your thoughts. How can we, as a society, meaning everybody, really improve the situation of the world. Please upload your answer to http://www.youtube.com/davos."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Starting to look like a recession
Financial news papers around the world have started reporting about Monday's Asian stock market plunge, recalling memories of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when the stock markets took a steep nose dive.
Financial Times reports that the Indian shares sank more than 11 per cent as the market opened Tuesday, resulting in a one-hour trading suspension. Hong Kong was on track for its worst two-day fall since the aftermath of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 recorded its biggest fall since the index was launched in 2000, closing 7.1 per cent lower.
The Asian market losses followed on from Europe’s declines on Monday, and a fall in New York futures suggested no respite for US equities when markets reopen later after Monday’s holiday- Martin Luther remembrance day.
In a recession consumers will have less spending power and the leisure and travel industry will be adversely affected.
What effect will such recessionary pressures have on the Maldivian economy? Maldives is heavily dependent on foreign tourism, and the gloom in the global economic horizon will have a negative impact on our tourism.
Hopefully, our politicians will devote enough time to manage the economy while they wrestle to institute a democratic form of government in Maldives.
Financial Times reports that the Indian shares sank more than 11 per cent as the market opened Tuesday, resulting in a one-hour trading suspension. Hong Kong was on track for its worst two-day fall since the aftermath of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 recorded its biggest fall since the index was launched in 2000, closing 7.1 per cent lower.
The Asian market losses followed on from Europe’s declines on Monday, and a fall in New York futures suggested no respite for US equities when markets reopen later after Monday’s holiday- Martin Luther remembrance day.
In a recession consumers will have less spending power and the leisure and travel industry will be adversely affected.
What effect will such recessionary pressures have on the Maldivian economy? Maldives is heavily dependent on foreign tourism, and the gloom in the global economic horizon will have a negative impact on our tourism.
Hopefully, our politicians will devote enough time to manage the economy while they wrestle to institute a democratic form of government in Maldives.
Monday, January 21, 2008
The price of social apathy!!!
Source: jazeera.comHave we lost the potential to think beyond the boundaries of materialism? Do we no longer care more for the people than for the dollar? Or is this an unfortunate accident and there is no need to look for answers beyond that.
These words may sound hollow in a world controlled by elitist groups who thrive in chaos.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Calling for Ideological Debates
The campaign for the presidential election in Maldives is gaining momentum and is largely driven one factor: the removal of the incumbent president who has declared his intention to seek re-election under the new constitution which limits the president's tenure to two terms. The opposition's campaign is cluttered with vitriol against the president who is completing his 6th five-year term. There is a manic frenzy by the opposition in the special majlis to push this particular agenda while amending the constitution, now in its last stage. Who ever contests for the presidency will have to put up with the rigors of political skulduggery. The issues of health care, education, housing, drug addiction, religious extremism and increasing gang violence that plague our country are drowned out by the political madness that has gripped the political parties.
Political parties are funded by public money and therefore they have a responsibility to educate and explain their policies in public forums on how to deal with these problems.
If the political campaigns are only based on personalities, the critical issues of the country will be left out. The road circus that the public was treated to when former president Ibrahim Nasir resigned nearly 30 years back will not be the most civilized and productive way to address grievances or to resolve conflicts. Long before Maldives engaged the world's top PR company Hill and Knowlton, our country was using its own equally clever PR masters and spin doctors. They used hypocrisy and deception with devastating effect to rob our civil rights and destroy our unity. The public is only now waking up from the insecurities and mind-controlling servitude that they introduced.
Though we claim to be a 100 per cent Muslim country, our true faith has always been missing. Our leaders are compromising good with evil which never pays in the end. Materialism is the guiding force that motivates us in life. This has resulted in a society that lacks care and empathy towards the less fortunate, --- a society with profound struggles for those living at the lower end of society.
It is a crying shame that our economic development has only enriched the economic and political elites while completely neglecting the interest of the common man for so long.
It is time to claim back our human rights and civil rights from the politicians who have exploited us. We cannot allow our future generations to be doomed. We should challenge the preachers who act out with holier-than-thou attitude and do not practise what they preach. Our system needs changing and politicians should not confuse people of what the real issues are. They should lock in ideological debates with political opponents but must stick to the issues so that solutions can be found for the future. No system causes problems, it is people within the system who cause them.
We are now at a turning point in our history- for good or for worse.
Political parties are funded by public money and therefore they have a responsibility to educate and explain their policies in public forums on how to deal with these problems.
If the political campaigns are only based on personalities, the critical issues of the country will be left out. The road circus that the public was treated to when former president Ibrahim Nasir resigned nearly 30 years back will not be the most civilized and productive way to address grievances or to resolve conflicts. Long before Maldives engaged the world's top PR company Hill and Knowlton, our country was using its own equally clever PR masters and spin doctors. They used hypocrisy and deception with devastating effect to rob our civil rights and destroy our unity. The public is only now waking up from the insecurities and mind-controlling servitude that they introduced.
Though we claim to be a 100 per cent Muslim country, our true faith has always been missing. Our leaders are compromising good with evil which never pays in the end. Materialism is the guiding force that motivates us in life. This has resulted in a society that lacks care and empathy towards the less fortunate, --- a society with profound struggles for those living at the lower end of society.
It is a crying shame that our economic development has only enriched the economic and political elites while completely neglecting the interest of the common man for so long.
It is time to claim back our human rights and civil rights from the politicians who have exploited us. We cannot allow our future generations to be doomed. We should challenge the preachers who act out with holier-than-thou attitude and do not practise what they preach. Our system needs changing and politicians should not confuse people of what the real issues are. They should lock in ideological debates with political opponents but must stick to the issues so that solutions can be found for the future. No system causes problems, it is people within the system who cause them.
We are now at a turning point in our history- for good or for worse.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Financial success has left the elderly neglected
Medical experts expressing their views in a seminar, as reported here have put the blame on changes in the Maldivian lifestyle which has led to widespread neglect of the elderly.
The director of local organisation Maldives Centre of Ageing (MCA), which organised the event, urged the Government to “strengthen the law” and “hold abusive family members to account”.
The Government is drafting a new policy to protect the country’s older citizens, as it always does from eradicating drugs to controlling violence.
This is an incredible situation in Maldives, a country that insists it must remain a 100 per cent Muslim country. Islam is a religion that calls for respect and care for parents and the elderly.
We tend to forget that the way we treat our parents, our children will treat us in the same fashion, because that's the role model we are presenting to them. "As you sow, so shall you reap."
Though the number of these cases may not be very high, the fact that such abuses do exist and continue to increase is an alarming social problem.
These elderly persons have raised children and contributed to society and deserve to live out their sunset years in dignity. It is up to their family to look after them with all their physical and mental deficiencies. The state should provide help and the support to the care givers who sometimes face very difficult predicaments. Maldives is rich enough to be able to look after the elderly without them becoming a burden on their families and society. While laws are necessary, the starting point is that we have to open up our hearts and become a caring society. Unless we do it out of love and compassion, no amount of laws can solve this problem.
The director of local organisation Maldives Centre of Ageing (MCA), which organised the event, urged the Government to “strengthen the law” and “hold abusive family members to account”.
The Government is drafting a new policy to protect the country’s older citizens, as it always does from eradicating drugs to controlling violence.
This is an incredible situation in Maldives, a country that insists it must remain a 100 per cent Muslim country. Islam is a religion that calls for respect and care for parents and the elderly.
We tend to forget that the way we treat our parents, our children will treat us in the same fashion, because that's the role model we are presenting to them. "As you sow, so shall you reap."
Though the number of these cases may not be very high, the fact that such abuses do exist and continue to increase is an alarming social problem.
These elderly persons have raised children and contributed to society and deserve to live out their sunset years in dignity. It is up to their family to look after them with all their physical and mental deficiencies. The state should provide help and the support to the care givers who sometimes face very difficult predicaments. Maldives is rich enough to be able to look after the elderly without them becoming a burden on their families and society. While laws are necessary, the starting point is that we have to open up our hearts and become a caring society. Unless we do it out of love and compassion, no amount of laws can solve this problem.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Virtual help for students
Harvard University computer science professor David Malan is providing "virtual office hours," allowing students to chat via text or microphone in live, online help sessions.
The professor who teaches 100 students says, "It's especially convenient if they're in their dorm, at Starbucks or on vacation. They can get help without physically making their way to the office. And it allows instructors to pop in at 11 p.m. or 1 a.m. … It's not feasible for us to be on campus at that time."
Malan is one of a growing number of professors in the United States turning to Internet technology to enhance course communication and connect with students.
Some faculty also use Facebook, the social-networking site, to post material or learn students' names.
Chad Rector, an assistant professor at George Washington University, uses Facebook to reconnect with former political science students. A "group" he created in October has nearly 100 members, who can send messages and post links, photos and videos.
"My idea is that I'll take questions from students about current events and answer them in a three- to five-minute video that refers back to ideas from the course," Rector says.
The professor who teaches 100 students says, "It's especially convenient if they're in their dorm, at Starbucks or on vacation. They can get help without physically making their way to the office. And it allows instructors to pop in at 11 p.m. or 1 a.m. … It's not feasible for us to be on campus at that time."
Malan is one of a growing number of professors in the United States turning to Internet technology to enhance course communication and connect with students.
Some faculty also use Facebook, the social-networking site, to post material or learn students' names.
Chad Rector, an assistant professor at George Washington University, uses Facebook to reconnect with former political science students. A "group" he created in October has nearly 100 members, who can send messages and post links, photos and videos.
"My idea is that I'll take questions from students about current events and answer them in a three- to five-minute video that refers back to ideas from the course," Rector says.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Grappling with health care
In United States, health care was the largest industry in 2006. It provided 14 million jobs—13.6 million jobs for wage and salary workers and about 438,000 jobs for the self-employed.
The U.S. is one of the world's few industrialized nations that does not guarantee access to health care. In the United States, around 84% of citizens have health insurance, either through their employer (60%), purchased individually (9%), or provided by government programs.
The US health care has now turned out to be a dysfunctional mess. About 45 million people do not have health insurance as they don't have the funds to pay the premiums. There is a growing consensus in America that time has come for a change to move away from the special interest groups like the insurance companies and drug companies who influence public policy.
On the presidential campaign trail Democratic contenders (shown in the video below) have spoken about introducing universal health care plans focusing on cutting costs via better access to preventive medicine.
The U.S. is one of the world's few industrialized nations that does not guarantee access to health care. In the United States, around 84% of citizens have health insurance, either through their employer (60%), purchased individually (9%), or provided by government programs.
The US health care has now turned out to be a dysfunctional mess. About 45 million people do not have health insurance as they don't have the funds to pay the premiums. There is a growing consensus in America that time has come for a change to move away from the special interest groups like the insurance companies and drug companies who influence public policy.
On the presidential campaign trail Democratic contenders (shown in the video below) have spoken about introducing universal health care plans focusing on cutting costs via better access to preventive medicine.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The evil behind the ego
- What happens to one of us, affects all of us since we are a small society.
What is true here that we are a small society. Our Capital Male', a 2 square km island has the most dense human population on the planet with 70,000. But what happens to one of us hardly has any bearing for the rest of us because the rest of us including our leaders and the Government continues with a business as usual attitude. The recent mob killing in Male' , increasing gang violence over the years and the alarming heroin addiction among our youth in Maldives is proof of this statement.
- We have always been a moderate nation.
The truth on this one is we have never been a moderate nation. We don't allow non-Muslims to practise their faith openly.
These are just a few of the empty cliches that shackle our society.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Bill Gates predicts
Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates has offered his take on the future of PCs. He says that people will see a sea change in the way they interact with computers in the coming five years.
Three years ago he spoke about the idea of the digital lifestyle. That our music, photos, TV, and communications would all be very different. And over these last three years it is really coming into the mainstream.
In a just released interview with BBC he is quoted as saying "this whole idea of what I call natural user interface is really redefining the experience."
"We're adding the ability to touch and directly manipulate, we're adding vision so the computer can see what you're doing, we're adding the pen, we're adding speech," he added.
Gates unveiled the Microsoft Surface computer, a large table like machine with a multi-touch interface, during the interview.
Three years ago he spoke about the idea of the digital lifestyle. That our music, photos, TV, and communications would all be very different. And over these last three years it is really coming into the mainstream.
In a just released interview with BBC he is quoted as saying "this whole idea of what I call natural user interface is really redefining the experience."
"We're adding the ability to touch and directly manipulate, we're adding vision so the computer can see what you're doing, we're adding the pen, we're adding speech," he added.
Gates unveiled the Microsoft Surface computer, a large table like machine with a multi-touch interface, during the interview.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Who cares for public interest?
Following the events after the brutal death of Evan Naseem in 2003 and under intense international pressure, the Maldivian Government was forced to undertake political reforms including the establishment of an independent judiciary and supreme court, and the setting up of a human rights commission. While the government has been largely reacting to events since then, the people of deprived islands have taken the law into their own hands. The people of Dhidhoo threw their fish into the government office when the collector vessel could not buy their catch. Since then it has become a common practise to force closure of offices in the islands or shut down the power generator until their demands are met. Things are going from bad to worse.
After the Human Rights Commission was set up 0n 10 October 2003, one more channel opened up to Maldivians to mount pressure on the Government to carry out the promised reforms.
While Maldives is still struggling to recover from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, our politicians are now preoccupied in the democratic process to build independent institutions for political governance. The public chase has intensified on the government that has a record of making bold statements and a very poor record of delivering them.
Efforts to eradicate drugs and treat addicts from drug addiction, a national epidemic among younger generation is a glaring example.
With the eyes of the world on Maldives, in June 2004 a special majlis, or parliament, was convened to consider changes in the constitution, including the legalization of political parties to bring democracy to the country.
What emerged from the special majlis over the next three years to revise a document that took 17 years to make has found several conspiracy theories. Some of them would include that government MP's deliberately fail to turn up to several meetings that were cancelled due to lack of quorum or the switching of unexpected political allegiances and affecting the voting patterns without any regard to public interest. All these makes the constitution of Maldives appear to be the worst enemy of the ordinary people of Maldives, the vast majority of whom make up the total of of 300,000 Muslims. The current constitution that some politicians praised as a world-class legal document turns out to have deprived the people of their rights and stands against good governance.
What an ominous misadventure the Maldivian constitution has been made out to be!!!
Tourism is the main industry, contributing almost 20 percent to the GDP. Fisheries and trade follow close behind.Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing, agriculture and manufacturing play a lesser role in the economy.
The wealthy elites resident in Male' benefit from tourism disproportionately because the country does not have an income tax system.
Significant challenges still lie ahead in order to comply with democracy and good governance such as building up independent institutions in a country that does not have a civic culture or the political discipline to make speedy progress. Promises of structural development and creating employment are undertaken, usually around election time.
There is more to democratic systems than simply structures and formal institutions. From the creation of democratic institutions, it is necessary that a political culture that supports democratic ideals also emerge. We are in testing times and have a long way to go.
After the Human Rights Commission was set up 0n 10 October 2003, one more channel opened up to Maldivians to mount pressure on the Government to carry out the promised reforms.
While Maldives is still struggling to recover from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, our politicians are now preoccupied in the democratic process to build independent institutions for political governance. The public chase has intensified on the government that has a record of making bold statements and a very poor record of delivering them.
Efforts to eradicate drugs and treat addicts from drug addiction, a national epidemic among younger generation is a glaring example.
With the eyes of the world on Maldives, in June 2004 a special majlis, or parliament, was convened to consider changes in the constitution, including the legalization of political parties to bring democracy to the country.
What emerged from the special majlis over the next three years to revise a document that took 17 years to make has found several conspiracy theories. Some of them would include that government MP's deliberately fail to turn up to several meetings that were cancelled due to lack of quorum or the switching of unexpected political allegiances and affecting the voting patterns without any regard to public interest. All these makes the constitution of Maldives appear to be the worst enemy of the ordinary people of Maldives, the vast majority of whom make up the total of of 300,000 Muslims. The current constitution that some politicians praised as a world-class legal document turns out to have deprived the people of their rights and stands against good governance.
What an ominous misadventure the Maldivian constitution has been made out to be!!!
Tourism is the main industry, contributing almost 20 percent to the GDP. Fisheries and trade follow close behind.Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing, agriculture and manufacturing play a lesser role in the economy.
The wealthy elites resident in Male' benefit from tourism disproportionately because the country does not have an income tax system.
Significant challenges still lie ahead in order to comply with democracy and good governance such as building up independent institutions in a country that does not have a civic culture or the political discipline to make speedy progress. Promises of structural development and creating employment are undertaken, usually around election time.
There is more to democratic systems than simply structures and formal institutions. From the creation of democratic institutions, it is necessary that a political culture that supports democratic ideals also emerge. We are in testing times and have a long way to go.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Socialism is not achievable
India is the world's twelfth largest economy and the economic reforms introduced in the 1990s have transformed this subcontinent of 1 billion people into the second fastest growing economy in the world.
India is also the largest democracy in the world. India is a federal republic which has twenty-eight states. The state of West Bengal is one of them. West Bengal is the hotbed of the Indian independence movement. Since independence in 1947, the state has for decades supported the Marxist communist ideology followed by the Communist Party of India- CPI (M). Its impoverishing economic effects have been widely felt in the state.
Aging CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu, 93, today said he supports West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's stand on capitalism, and it is needed to industrialise the state. "Socialism is not achievable at this point of time. We have been working within the capitalist system and as such private capital has to be used while social welfare programmes by the state government would continue," Basu told reporters in response to a question after attending a meeting of the party's state secretariat. "Socialism is a far cry. Socialism is our political agenda and it was mentioned in our party document but capitalism will continue to be the compulsion for the future", the CPI(M) politburo member said.
Source: Headlines India- January 05, 2008
India is also the largest democracy in the world. India is a federal republic which has twenty-eight states. The state of West Bengal is one of them. West Bengal is the hotbed of the Indian independence movement. Since independence in 1947, the state has for decades supported the Marxist communist ideology followed by the Communist Party of India- CPI (M). Its impoverishing economic effects have been widely felt in the state.
Aging CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu, 93, today said he supports West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's stand on capitalism, and it is needed to industrialise the state. "Socialism is not achievable at this point of time. We have been working within the capitalist system and as such private capital has to be used while social welfare programmes by the state government would continue," Basu told reporters in response to a question after attending a meeting of the party's state secretariat. "Socialism is a far cry. Socialism is our political agenda and it was mentioned in our party document but capitalism will continue to be the compulsion for the future", the CPI(M) politburo member said.
Source: Headlines India- January 05, 2008
India reduces import duty on 4800 items from SAARC
India has scrapped import duty on more than 4,800 items from four neighbouring countries and reduced customs tariff on these products from Pakistan and Sri Lanka as part of efforts to boost trade in South Asia.
"The import duty has been reduced from 16-40 per cent to zero level on items like meat, fish, milk, dairy products, and dry fruits from the neighbouring least developing countries (LDCs) - Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives," a finance ministry official said.
However, the duty rates on these items have been reduced to 12-20 per cent on goods imported from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The new rates come into effect from January 1.
Source: Indiabiznews, 05 january 2008
"The import duty has been reduced from 16-40 per cent to zero level on items like meat, fish, milk, dairy products, and dry fruits from the neighbouring least developing countries (LDCs) - Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives," a finance ministry official said.
However, the duty rates on these items have been reduced to 12-20 per cent on goods imported from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The new rates come into effect from January 1.
Source: Indiabiznews, 05 january 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Sleazy sex : Story of the year for Malaysians
It was only the second day into the New Year and probably Malaysians have got the story of the year.
Malaysia's health minister quit his post yesterday after a sex scandal in which he featured in two pornographic videos where he was shown with a woman he described as a "personal friend".
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, 60, quit all his government and political posts because Malaysians wanted him to do so after he admitted being the man in the sex DVD.
The drama had unfolded on the morning of New Year’s Eve when Dr Chua took his wife to meet the Prime Minister and admitted he was the man in the sex DVD. Rumors had already been circulating in Dr. Chua's Johor sate about the sleazy sex video tape.
Those who know the outspoken Johor politician were not surprised by his decision. He has always taken the bull by the horns and his public confession was classic Chua Soi Lek.
A man who does not mince his words, Dr Chua gained the respect of those who dealt with him. Many people consider him the best health minister Malaysia had.
Malaysians expect their leaders to keep to higher standards of conduct and it appears they are not prepared to forgive the moral failings of their elected leaders.
By his resignation, Dr Chua Soi Lek made the right decision to take responsibility for his actions and set a precedent for other politicians.
Malaysia's health minister quit his post yesterday after a sex scandal in which he featured in two pornographic videos where he was shown with a woman he described as a "personal friend".
Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, 60, quit all his government and political posts because Malaysians wanted him to do so after he admitted being the man in the sex DVD.
The drama had unfolded on the morning of New Year’s Eve when Dr Chua took his wife to meet the Prime Minister and admitted he was the man in the sex DVD. Rumors had already been circulating in Dr. Chua's Johor sate about the sleazy sex video tape.
Those who know the outspoken Johor politician were not surprised by his decision. He has always taken the bull by the horns and his public confession was classic Chua Soi Lek.
A man who does not mince his words, Dr Chua gained the respect of those who dealt with him. Many people consider him the best health minister Malaysia had.
Malaysians expect their leaders to keep to higher standards of conduct and it appears they are not prepared to forgive the moral failings of their elected leaders.
By his resignation, Dr Chua Soi Lek made the right decision to take responsibility for his actions and set a precedent for other politicians.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Rising religious tension
One of the biggest dangers that Maldives will face in the future will be religious intolerance within its own community.
Last Friday a number of Maldivians left a mosque in Male' when they knew that Dr. Afrashim Ali was to recite the sermon and lead the prayer.
While everyone has right to go to any any mosque they like, the refusal to be led by a particular Imam raises serious questions. To the liberal Muslims, those who refuse to be led by Dr. Afrashim who holds liberal views including on music that has aroused controversy will be seen as radical conservatives.
We have already seen the consequences of the religious divide in Hinmadhoo and Male' where a group of people followed an uncompromising separatist view of practising Islam.
Maldives is one of the most intolerant countries in the world, in terms of religion. The Maldivian government will have to decide on Imams that will be acceptable to all, and if that cannot be achieved they may have to have dedicated mosques for different Imams. We will then be practising divide and rule at its best.
Tolerance of religious differences must taught in schools and practised in the country by politicians if the people of our country are to live in peaceful co-existence.
Last Friday a number of Maldivians left a mosque in Male' when they knew that Dr. Afrashim Ali was to recite the sermon and lead the prayer.
While everyone has right to go to any any mosque they like, the refusal to be led by a particular Imam raises serious questions. To the liberal Muslims, those who refuse to be led by Dr. Afrashim who holds liberal views including on music that has aroused controversy will be seen as radical conservatives.
We have already seen the consequences of the religious divide in Hinmadhoo and Male' where a group of people followed an uncompromising separatist view of practising Islam.
Maldives is one of the most intolerant countries in the world, in terms of religion. The Maldivian government will have to decide on Imams that will be acceptable to all, and if that cannot be achieved they may have to have dedicated mosques for different Imams. We will then be practising divide and rule at its best.
Tolerance of religious differences must taught in schools and practised in the country by politicians if the people of our country are to live in peaceful co-existence.