President: Religious extremism leading scores of youths astray

The number of Maldivians led astray due to dissemination of misinformation regarding Islam which have cost them their lives and Maldivian families their loved once is deeply felt by the Maldivian community. And one should keep in mind that religious extremism has worked to lead scores of Maldivian youths astray same as the spread of anti-religious sentiments, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Solih made the comment in his address to the people on occasion of The Day Maldives Embraced Islam being marked this Sunday.

He said that ignorance of the fact that Islam is a religion based on peace, kindness, forgiveness and unity is the main contributing factor to deviation from the true principles of Islam and spread of religious extremism.

Solih called on all Islamic scholars, teachers and educational institutes to “instill authentic Islamic knowledge in the hearts of our children, in order to protect them from making wrong choices in life, and to guide them in the right path.”

He stressed that the firm Islamic faith of Maldivians was the foundation of the unity among Maldivians and the main shield against all foreign influences, and called on everyone to promote the true message of Islam.