MDN report sparks heated debate in Parliament

A motion has been presented to the Parliament today by Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed Abdulla against irreligious ideologies in the Maldives.

The motion comes on the heels of a report by the Maldives Democracy Network containing alleged blasphemous and anti-Islamic content that has sparked a huge debate in the country. The motion was accepted by unanimously for debate by all MPs present.

MP Nasheed stated while presenting his motion that while the Constitution clearly stated that the religion of the country is Islam, the ‘’Preliminary Report on Radicalization in the Maldives” included content that questioned and opposed the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohamed (SAW).

“This includes mockery of the miraculous journey of Isra and Miraj and how it is not scientifically acceptable, (The Report) also mocked the creed of Islam and its pillars accepted by Muslims.” The motion read.

The motion also stated that the report included references to the protection and control of the tongue in Islam and how the report viewed this a limitation of the freedom of expression and opinion. Nasheed also stated that the timing of the publication of the report did not matter and that the report published in 2015 was a short one and the report consisting of more than 100 pages was released after the 2018 election.

The report has seen the organization and its leaders receive heavy criticism from the public and current and former MPs as well. Some have gone as far as to call for the organization to be outlawed and its leaders arrested on social media.

The issue of the controversial report has been submitted to Police by the Islamic Ministry as well.