Maldives Police Service (MPS) has forwarded their initial assessment on the “Preliminary Assessment of Radicalization in the Maldives” report by Maldives Democracy Network (MDN) to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment.
Following the completion of the initial assessment, police has declared that the report in fact consists of content that is disrespectful and mocks the religion, ridicules Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and tarnishes Islamic tenets.
A total of 115 councils have released statements calling to ban the organization following the surfacing of the report, which was initially publicized in 2016.
The call is joined by Islamic scholars as well as the opposition coalition.
As such, the opposition coalition has been holding protests calling to ban MDN, arrest its officials and strip them from government positions.
Opposition continues its calls for current MDN officials who fill government posts, to be sacked and for the resignation of Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed.
The controversial MDN report is deemed to contain disrespectful content that mocks the religion, ridicules Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and tarnishes Islamic tenets. Although the report was publicized in 2016, it came into the spot light recently and has churned public turmoil, with several social media users calling to take action against MDN.
While MDN has since apologized, it was placed under temporary suspension by the Youth Ministry.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also said that the issue will be "thoroughly" investigated and that "appropriate measures will be taken as stipulated under the Maldives constitution.”
The government and authorities have expressed concern over particular groups misusing the situation and inciting hatred, provoking violence and creating public disorder, in the name of defending Islam.
Police has since urged the public to practice maintaining the country’s peace and unity and to do their part to maintain accord, assuring that its duties and responsibilities to the people will be fulfilled.
