The government of Maldives is hosting a training programme aimed at enhancing the role of Imams and preachers.

Titled “Building the Capacity of Imams and Preachers”, the training programme kicked off on May 5 in the capital, Malé City.

The training programme is an initiative of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) under its strategic initiative "Wasata" and brings together a select group of imams, preachers, and orators from across the Maldives.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu and Secretary-General of IMCTC Major General Mohammed Bin Saeed Al-Moghedi joined the inauguration ceremony.

Taking the podium at the inauguration event, Minister Shaheem stated that the training programme, organized by IMCTC in cooperation with the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Republic of Maldives (NCTC), is a “highly important” initiative for strengthening coordination and cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism.

Further, the Islamic minister described terrorism as an ideological affliction that should be addressed through education and the encouragement of moderation, in line with Islamic principles.

Expressing his appreciation for the efforts of IMCTC in protecting societies from terrorism and extremist ideologies, Shaheem said that the government of Maldives continues its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Speaking at the ceremony, IMCTC’s Secretary-General emphasized that the coalition was founded with a clear vision to coordinate international efforts and foster unity in strengthening intellectual, media, financial, and military capacities to combat terrorism. It carries out various initiatives centered on capacity building and professional training to enhance the readiness of organizations engaged in counterterrorism activities.

Further, he went on to note that this initiative is part of IMCTC’s broader strategic framework, which includes 15 key initiatives across its four core domains: ideological, media, counter terrorist financing, and military.

As part of the initiative, the coalition intends to implement 90 training programs and 20 awareness-driven projects across member states, all designed to enhance capabilities in combating terrorism.

Featuring a series of lectures and workshops covering topics such as extremist propaganda techniques, effective public speaking, communication skills, and the principles of moderation and balance, the training programme is scheduled to proceed over the course of five days. It also serves as a platform for participants to exchange successful preaching experiences.