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Maldives President warns Maldivian families living abroad that offers of free medical care and education may be a lure to indoctrination in the Christian religion from Haveeru 25 May 2002 translation from Maldives Culture contributors
On Thursday, at a ceremony held at the Islamic Centre in Malé on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the President of the Maldives made a speech saying that some foreign organizations are helping families who are living away from the Maldives as part of a well-calculated strategy. The President claimed to know that foreign organizations have a lot of money at their disposal in order to force the Christian doctrine upon Maldivians. 'I have been informed that among the activities being done in order to force the Christian religion, ideas and doctrine upon Maldivian families living abroad, the main one is to establish relationships through giving various sorts of help,' the President commented. 'The facts of offering free education to children, giving free medical care and any other kinds of help are just part of a very calculated grand strategy. We have to be very alert. We have to decide whether we want the blessings, progress and benefits of this world or the happiness of both worlds. Whether we really want to receive the fortune of salvation on the Day of Judgement by pleasing almighty Allah or whether we just want to meet a few needs in this transient world,' declared the President. 'Even though there is a strong relationship between the Maldive Islands and the holy Islamic religion, it is a sad fact that owing to the influence of ways of thinking coming from abroad, a few anti-religious opinions are beginning to be heard in the Maldives,' the President lamented. The President went into great detail in his speech on the topic of the relationship between the Maldive Islands and the holy Islamic religion. He affirmed that there is a very strong relationship between the Maldives and the holy Islamic religion. Ever since the islands were converted to the religion of Islam, the Maldivians have been living in a 100% Muslim country, which is something that is not only in the hearts of the subjects, but which is also expressed in the laws and rules of the state. The President observed that due to the fact that some foreign ways of thinking have made inroads into the Maldives, a few people are raising their voices claiming that it is not indispensable that Islam be enshrined in the constitution as the religion of the Maldive Islands. This is a very disgraceful activity and something that has to be given full attention, he warned. In the constitution of every Islamic country, it is stated that the official religion of that state is the religion of Islam. In a similar manner, in countries that are not Islamic, statements based on the religion that those people believe are written in their constitution. Therefore, what some people demand concerning a secular state or a government where no particular religion should be enforced, is a deceitful opinion not based on reality, the President affirmed. The President emphasized in his speech that there is a very close relationship between Maldivian nationalism and the Islamic doctrine. The self-rule, freedom and protection of the Maldive Islands have endured owing to this relationship, he said. He warned that if any place is given to any other religion in the Maldives, the harmony, peace and tranquillity enjoyed by the country would disappear. The freedom, self-rule and independence of the Maldive Islands would definitely end, he said. In his speech the President mentioned that the purpose of expressing joy on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad should be to show the strongest determination to strive steadfastly in the religion revealed by the Holy Messenger of Islam, and to remain firmly in the faith without the slightest hesitation. The President said that the Holy Prophet Muhammad was the highest example of modesty, humility and kindness to people. |
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Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
We invite contributions from Maldivians and others interested in Maldives.
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