Action must be taken against Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), as well as those that recruit jihadi fighters and are involved in murders, says Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
The former president said this via Twitter on Thursday, after facing backlash for defending the human rights’ groups intentions in compiling the controversial report.
While MDN’s ‘Preliminary Report on Radicalization in Maldives’ report was released in 2016, excerpts from the report have been circulating on social media recently with concerns expressed over its “anti-Islamic rhetoric’s.”
Nasheed on Wednesday defended the group, saying he does not believe that the report intended to incite hatred towards Islam and indicated that some of the points made in the report might have been lost in translation.
Further noting that the matter is being deliberated in parliament as well, the Speaker said that all lawmakers expressing concern over the phrasing used to refer to the Prophet (PBUH) and references to particular religious texts.
He added that there are certain standards to follow in writing such religious reports, stressing that “upholding these standards is important.”
However, the former president said that he does not believe that the parliament has the jurisdiction to make decisions on issues regarding Islam.
Noting that the lawmakers agree to seek advice from religious scholars or experts on the issue, Nasheed said that he has called on officials from the Islamic, education and home ministries, as well as MDN, for a meeting to discuss the matter.
While the MDN report has been subject to public scrutiny for days now, the group has apologized for the language used in the report. MDN said that the report will be revised “with assistance from religious scholars.”
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also released a statement on the matter, assuring the public that the matter will be "thoroughly" investigated and that "appropriate measures will be taken as stipulated under the Maldives constitution" to ensure religious unity.
A case against MDN has been filed at the Maldives Police Service (MPS), who said that the case is being treated as "high priority", with the institution giving assurance that those behind the report will be held accountable.
