Stop politicizing everything; destroying historical monuments is an attempt to bury our history: Shahid
Shahid urged the government to refrain from politicizing the destruction of ancestral heritage and cultural landmarks, calling for the protection of such sites from decay. As public opposition grows through social media campaigns, he further appealed to the authorities to abandon the decision to demolish the mosque.
Abdulla Shahid gives an interview to Raajje TV. | RaajjeMV | Raajje MV
The President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Abdulla Shahid, has stated that the ongoing destruction of historical landmarks is an attempt to bury the nation's history, urging that such matters should not be politicized.
Amidst growing public concern and social media debate over the decision to demolish the Bandaara Mosque (Masjid-al-Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen) to make way for a large modern mosque, Shahid told RaajjeMV in an interview that the continuous destruction of ancient landmarks will leave future generations with no tangible history to look back on. He warned that if this trend continues, the nation’s heritage will be reduced to nothing more than the structures built by whoever happens to be the sitting president at the time.
Shahid stated that if the current administration wishes to erase the achievements of its predecessors, it might as well destroy the nation's historical monuments. However, he warned that if such a culture takes root in the Maldives, the legacy of our ancestors will be entirely obliterated. He further emphasized that this is a dangerous path to follow.
Not everything should be politicized. Our history and culture are not subjects for political exploitation; they represent the way of life, the monuments, and the daily existence of our ancestors. It is not just the Bandaara Mosque; during my travels to Shaviyani Atoll and other parts of the country, I have witnessed various historical and cultural mosques being left to fall into ruin.Abdulla Shahid
Furthermore, Shahid stated that the government must abandon its plan to demolish Bandaara Mosque and construct an entirely new building in its place. He noted that while building a mosque is a meritorious act, its full spiritual rewards can only be realized if the project also carries the consent and approval of the public.
Notably, the decision to demolish the Bandaara Mosque has sparked widespread public outcry on social media. A digital campaign under the hashtag "Save Bandaara Mosque" has also been launched in protest of the move.
