Adam Shareef vows to counter islamophobia from within Parliament

People’s National Congress (PNC)’s parliamentary group leader Adam Shareef Umar has vowed to lead efforts from within the Parliament to counter the recent uptick in cases involving islamophobia and blasphemy in Maldives.

Adam Shareef Umar’s promise comes amid widespread criticism against non-governmental organization Maldives Democratic Network over the contents of its preliminary report on radicalization in Maldives published in 2015 – some of which is believed to be blasphemous.

Following public outrage over the report, the Islamic Ministry conducted a review of the report and lodged a case with the police after finding the contents of the report to violate the principles of Islam and Prophet Mohamed, and potentially create religious division among the Maldivian people.

It is unclear at this point whether the case has been officially registered with the police.

Meanwhile, the MDN has issued a public apology and withdrawn its report to carry out revisions before its re-published.

Raajjeygai Islam Dheenah furassaara kuraa massala Majlis ah vadhdhaanan.

Islam Dheenah furassaara kuranee dhuraalaa raavaigen. E ee beyruge nufoozaaeku hingaa kameh.

Islam Dheenah furassaara kurumakee Qaanoon No. 6/94 in manaa kameh. Mikan huttuvai, fiyavalhu alhanjehey.

— Adam Shareef Umar (@Adamshareefz) October 4, 2019

Adam Shareef Umar, who had previously served as the Maldivian defense minister, has issued a statement through his official Twitter account in which he, in addition to vowing to address acts pf islamophobia and blasphemy from within the Parliament, alleged that the recent cases of blasphemy were coordinated attacks on Islam with the influence of foreign parties.

He stressed that blasphemy was a crime under the Religious Harmony Act, and that such acts must be investigated and taken action against.

MDN, in its public apology which it issued on Thursday, October 3, conceded that certain content of its report wasn’t phrased correctly.

“We acknowledge the public outrage over the phrasing on the report, and sincerely apologize for the content in question,” said MDN.

PRESS RELEASE re: Preliminary Assessment of Radicalisation in the Maldives published in 2015https://t.co/hedORxjUX3 pic.twitter.com/YpplS2zEhY

— Mv Democracy Network (@MDN_mv) October 3, 2019

The NGO said it planned on revising the report with the assistance of an Islamic scholar.

MDN has come under heavy criticism from local Islamic scholars, several prominent politicians, and current and former lawmakers over the report. And an online petition calling for the dissolution of the NGO has gathered hundreds of signatures.

MDN’s controversial report comes after the arrest of a 38-year-old male from G. Dh. Thinadhoo for blasphemy in September. The police, last Friday, said that the man was being provided counselling.

Meanwhile a Facebook page accused of inciting religious disharmony and publishing blasphemous content was blocked at the Maldivian government’s request, also in September.