President: Ali Rasgefaanu’s jihad calls on Maldivians not to bow down to foreign powers

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says that the struggle of Sultan Ali VI or Ali Rasgefaanu, to whom the Martyrs’ Day is dedicated to, calls on modern political leaders against bowing down to foreign powers.

In a national address on Sunday morning, President Muizzu spoke about the history of Martyrs’ Day, and its implications for the future.

President Muizzu said that Ali Rasgefaanu’s struggle speaks to modern politicians.

“It calls not to bow down to foreign greedy foreign powers. It calls on the Maldivians to secure their safety themselves,” he said.

President Muizzu said the struggle also speaks to the media and the youth.

He said that the struggle advises medias to side with the country when propagating news, and warns against spreading false information.

“And it also advises [the youth] against discarding their religious faith and their country amid the intoxication of youth,” he said.

“The biggest lesson that Ali Rasgefaanu’s jihad teaches modern Maldivians is that Almighty Allah will make the righteous victories. And that it has nothing to do with the size of the land or population,” he said.

President Muizzu said that Maldivian ancestors had liberated the country from the Portuguese colonizers, and seized back the islands that were awarded by the puppet-king Kalhu Mohamed Rasgefaanu for the benefit of foreigners.

President Muizzu said that drawing strength from the struggle, his administration will get back the maritime territory the country lost.

“I will ensure there is no room in Maldives’ lands for foreign military presence,” he said, referring to efforts to expel the Indian troops in the Maldives.

President Muizzu said he has seen the plight of the Palestinian people, who lack any power in their own country. He said he does not want the same plight to befall the Maldives.

“My sincere plea is to be true to this country. To respect Islamic faith. To be loyal to the state,” he said.

Martyrs' Day honors national heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.

The day is dedicated to Ali Rasgefaanu, who fought the Portuguese and died in the battlefield in the 1500s, mere months after his accension.

The Portuguese were aided by the deposed Sultan Hassan IX.

Ali Rasgefaanu repelled three Portuguese attacks, before dying a martyr’s death. The next 15 years saw the darkest period in Maldivian history, when the Portuguese tried to enforce Christianity upon the islanders.