No pressure in gov't's decision to dissolve MDN: Mahloof

There was no outside pressure on the government in the decision to dissolve Maldives Democracy Network (MDN), says Minister Ahmed Mahloof.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s “Fala Surukhee” program on Tuesday night, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment revealed that the law clearly states that an organization formed under it can be suspended and even dissolved if it goes against the law. As such, MDN was formed under a set procedure, which it went against, leading to its consecutive dissolvement.

Mahloof went on to reveal that action was taken on MDN as stipulated under the law from the day the complaint against it’s controversial “Preliminary Assessment of Radicalization in the Maldives” report was filed.

MDN was placed under temporary suspension by the Youth Ministry in October.

Further, he stated that the statement by the ministry clearly highlights that the process will be completed within 45 days.

The minister highlighted that the government could have dissolved the organization on the spot like the previous administration of former President Abdulla Yameen would have, however, he stated that the incumbent government would not do something like that.

He cited President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih having said that the case was being investigated very closely from the very first day onwards as a high priority.

Adding that there was no pressure from on government to dissolve MDN from any party, Mahloof stated that the decision was reached following investigative reports as Solih had assured that nothing will be done under pressure.

President had however, instructed to carry out the investigations and procedure under the legal mandate.

The ministry announced its decision to dissolve MDN on Tuesday after receiving the initial assessment on the “Preliminary Assessment of Radicalization in the Maldives” report from the Maldives Police Service (MPS), on 1 November.

Police declared that the report, in fact, consists of content that is disrespectful and mocks the religion, ridicules Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and tarnishes Islamic tenets.

This comes at a time the opposition coalition has been holding protests calling to ban MDN, arrest its officials and strip them from government positions.

The call is joined by Islamic scholars as well as the opposition coalition.

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.

Opposition has been calling for MDN officials who fill government posts, to be sacked and for the resignation of Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed as well.

The controversial MDN report, for which it has since apologized, 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.

Although police have issued summons to several MDN officials over the matter, none of them turned up.