President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has declared he will not tolerate any extremist attempts to cause divisions in within Maldivian communities.
Speaking to the nation during his third Presidential Address on Thursday morning, President Solih described the foundation of the nation as resting upon fundamental Islamic beliefs, and detailed efforts on behalf of his government to strengthen the faith of citizens and to uphold the exemplary principles of Islam.
With gravity, President Solih highlighted the critical counter-measures undertaken by his administration in order to keep extremist ideologies at bay among Maldivian communities over the past year.
President Solih stated that Islam was a religion that demanded compassion for children, in addition to nurturing, symbiotic relationships within communities, and stated that he would not tolerate any attempts made by extremists to cause divisions in Maldivian society.
The societal values of Islam emphasize kindness towards children, being helpful and maintaining good relations with one another... sexual abuse of children and women, depriving them of basic rights and forming divisions within the community in the name of Islam will not be tolerated. I believe that safeguarding victims from abuse and ensuring that they live in safety and peace is a fundamental aspect of good governance.President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Third Presidential Address
President Solih has previously identified the violence propagated by extremists, and the anti-Islamic rhetoric adopted by some critics of faith, to be a grave threat to peace and national security in the Maldives. He has gone on to highlight efforts being made to identify the extent to which radical ideologies on both sides of the spectrum exist within Maldivian communities, with the government engaging in transparent operations in order to counteract such dangerous ideals.
While President Solih reaffirmed his administration's unwavering stance against extremism during his third Presidential Address, Wednesday saw a Special Management Unit established within the Maafushi Prison Complex to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies within those brought under detention following various crimes.
