Dr. Azra Naseem summoned for questioning over MDN report
Police issued a public summon on Sunday
Dr. Azra Naseem
Maldives Police Service (MPS) has summoned Dr. Azra Naseem to present herself to the police headquarters, as it continues to investigate Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)’s ‘Preliminary Report on Radicalization in Maldives’ report.
According to the public summon notice, she is accused of being involved in compiling the 2016 report which has gained attention recently for its “anti-Islamic rhetoric.”
She is wanted for questioning in the investigation in the "high priority" case, and is ordered to present herself to the police headquarters on November 5.
Police said that the public summon was issued after multiple failed attempts to present a notice to Azra.
Dr. Azra currently resides in Ireland.
She earned her Journalism and Media Communications degree from Griffith College Dublin, and her Master’s in International Relations from Dublin City University (DCU). She received her PhD at DCU as well. Azra also had worked as a journalist in Dublin for several years, as well in the Maldives, and had also lectured in Media Law and Ethics at Griffith College Dublin.
Dr. Azra currently works as a terrorism expert at DCU.
While MDN’s ‘Preliminary Report on Radicalization in Maldives’ report was released in 2016, it has faced backlash over the language used with excerpts from the report being circulated on social media recently.
The government has since to imposed a “temporary cessation” of MDN’s activities, and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that the issue will be "thoroughly" investigated and that "appropriate measures will be taken as stipulated under the Maldives constitution.”
MDN has apologized for the language in its report, adding that it will be revised “with assistance from religious scholars.”
Noting that the group's aim is to "promote and protectmoderate views, peace and unity in the Maldives," MDN said that it "does not accept or condone disrespect to Islam.”
With calls to ban the group, the group has revealed that its officials have been receiving death threats since the issue emerged, and called on authorities to take legal action against those responsible for these acts.
