“Woodstock of the mind” coming to the Maldives

Some comments under the article “Woodstock of the mind” coming to the Maldives on the Minivan News website on 23 Aug 2010.

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Shaz on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 10:37 PM

“I was referring in my interview to a tiny minority who preach violent jihad, who incite hatred and violence against ‘infidels’, apostates, Jews and homosexuals; who in their speeches and on their websites speak passionately against free thought, pluralism, democracy, unveiled women; who will tolerate no other interpretation of Islam but their own and have vilified Sufism and other strands of Islam as apostasy; who have murdered, among others, fellow Muslims by the thousands in the market places of Iraq, Algeria and in the Sudan. Countless Islamic writers, journalists and religious authorities have expressed their disgust at this extremist violence. To speak against such things is hardly ‘astonishing’ on my part (Independent on Sunday) or original, nor is it ‘Islamophobic’ and ‘right wing’ as one official of the Muslim Council of Britain insists, and nor is it to endorse the failures and brutalities of US foreign policy. It is merely to invoke a common humanity which I hope would be shared by all religions as well as all non-believers.” – Ian McEwan

Why is the Maldives allowing entry to this man who’s against everything the True Muslim Maldivians (TM) stand for? And does the Maldivian government not incite hatred against apostates and homosexuals? I hope they don’t sell literature promoting views such as his. Oh the blasphemy. Na’oozubillahi.

Mr. Adhaalath on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 5:25 AM

@shaz & heck:

It’s not the Maldivian government that incites hatred against homosexuals, apostates or whatever, it’s the public that’s been brainwashed by the self-proclaimed true muslims that does so. Islam was known to be a religion that encouraged arts, creativity and science throughout it’s existence up until the Wahhabi’s emerged. If that wasn’t the case, our ancestors too would’ve had long-beards, trimmed mo’s and three quarter pants. We would’ve had no culture besides reciting the Quran, oppressing women, homosexuals, and what not. Get your heads straight and open your eyes.

Shaz on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 1:50 PM

@ Mr. Adhaalath,

“According to the Section 15, clause 173 (8a) “Sexual activity with a member of the same sex”, under the “Rules of adjudication”, the punishment is to be lashed (tha’zeer) between 19 to 39 times and banished or imprisoned for a period between 1 to 3 years, taking into account, the severity of the offence.”

That’s what the law says. If that’s not inciting hatred and violence against homosexuals I don’t know what is.

Shaz on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 2:35 PM

ދަންނަބޭކަލުންގެ ބަސްފުޅުތަކަށް ބަލާއިރު ވެސް ހުރިހާ ދަންނަބޭކަލުން މިފަދަ މީހާގެ ޙުކުމަކީ މަރުންކަމުގައި އެއްބަސްވެ ވަޑައިގަންނަވައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މެރުމުގެ ގޮތަކަކީ ކޮބައިތޯ މިކަމުގައި ދަންނަބޭކަލުން އިޚްތިލާފު ވެވަޑައިގަންނަވައެވެ. އިމާމުވެރިބެއިކަލުންގެ ތެރެއިން ގިނަބޭކަލުން ދެކެވަޑައިގަންނަވަނީ މުޙްޞިނެއްކަމުގައި ވިއަސް އެބަހީ ކައިވެނި ކޮށްފަ ހުރި މީހެއްކަމުގައި ވިއަސް ނުވަތަ މުޙްޞިނެއް ނޫން ކަމުގައި ވިއަސް އެބަހީ ކާވެނި ނުކޮށް ހުރި މީހެއްކަމުގައި ވިއަސް އޭނާ ޤަތުލުކުރުމަށެވެ. އަނެއްބައި ބެއިކަލުންގެ ބަސްފުޅަކީ މުޙްޞިނެއް ކަމުގައި ވިއަސް ނުވަތަ މުޙްޞިނެއް ނޫން ކަމުގައި ވިއަސް ރަޖަމުކުރުމަށެވެ. (އެބަހީ ކުދިގަލުން ތަލާ މެރުމަށެވެ.) އަނެއް ބައި ޢިލްމުވެރިން ވިދާޅުވަނީ މުޙްޞިނެއްނަމަ ރަޖަމު ކުރުމަށެވެ. މުޙްޞިނެއްކަމުގައި ނުވާނަމަ ޤަތުލުކުރުމަށެވެ. އަދި ބައެއް ޢިލްމުވެރިން އުސްތަނަކުން ވައްޓާ މަރާލުމަށް ވެސް ވިދާޅުވެއެވެ. މިކަމުގައި އެޅުނު މީހާއާއި އެޅެވުނު މީހާގެ ތަފާތެއް ނެތްގޮތަށެވެ.

http://www.noorul-islam.net/v7/noorulislam_view.asp?articleID=508

And that’s what a once Minister of State for Home Affairs had to say on homosexuals. Being stoned to death or thrown off a high place, which do you think does not incite violence?

heck on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 3:22 PM

@Shaz

I was not able to see your true colour from the posts.

It’s very ambiguous.

What is your POSITION on homosexuality?

Please advise.

Shaz on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 7:16 PM

@heck, Exactly my point. Inviting pro-gay writers into our pristine and morally superior Islamic nation not only exposes the hypocrisy of the government, which loves to champion Islam when it serves their political interest; but also invites the wrath of the Divine Peeping Tom who has nothing better to do but watch what people do with their genitals. If that doesn’t tell you what my position on homosexuality is, then I can’t help you.

heck on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 11:03 PM

@Shaz

“..nothing better to do but watch what people do with their genitals.”

Watching others genitals is a sin in Islam except your legally wedded spouse!

Because we are human beings NOT animals.

It is important that we use our TOOLS in the right way to create the “right products”.

For instance a carpenter starts using a SCREW DRIVER to plane a piece of wood. Will he ever get the surface levelled with that wrong tool?

OR what good is it, hammer hitting hammer head instead of hammer hitting nail head?

The result is only unproductive noises and nothing else!

Our purpose in this life is obedience towards God, WHETHER or NOT Ian McEwan likes it or not.

I don’t think Islam will ever be conducive to “apostates, Jews and homosexuals” as he wants us to be!

Not because Islam is against PEACE but because they stand against the very basic tenets of Islam!

He does not have the right to GRILL Muslims because of their religious belief!

He is not a religious scholar and NEITHER am I!

Shaz on Thu, 26th Aug 2010 12:37 AM

@heck, Maybe in Aristotle’s purpose driven universe this sexual ethics made sense, and for the same reason Aquinas and medieval Islamic theologians championed it, while failing to notice the flawed logic, which is,things needn’t have to have one single function or a list of proper functions.

I’ll borrow your metaphor. There’s a spectrum of hammer functions. Some like to hit on nails. Others like to hit on them, but also pull them out. Some are used in a courtroom. Others in a doctor’s consultation room. Some make music. Others are used to listen to music. Thankfully in the hammer-world, judgmental bigots don’t exist, so they all live in harmony, proving that functions are not limited, but interchangeable. We can learn a lot from hammers.

However I do agree with you that Islam isn’t ‘conducive’ to homosexuals, Jews, apostates etc etc. So instead of boring us with tired old ancient anti-gay arguments, maybe you could join me in protesting this visit by Ian McEwan, the Islamaphobe who doesn’t tolerate intolerance against Jews, homosexuals and other enemies of Islam.

By the way, I think that when it comes to divine voyeurism, the rules don’t apply to the rule-maker.

Shaz on Thu, 26th Aug 2010 3:31 PM

“pulling out a nail does not negate the action of hitting the nail head”

Neither does homosexual sex negate heterosexual sex. Ask any bisexual.

“hammer down both the defendant and plaintiff.” “blow on the head”

I see that you agree that hammering is not the only function of a hammer.

“correct usage and they all follow without deviation”

Implying that a hammer can be put to multiple uses. So can your genitals. My point exactly.

feckless thug on Thu, 26th Aug 2010 6:22 PM

@heck,

some things grow from deviations, language and music for instance, the richness of which can be attributed in part to certain outstanding breaks from tradition.

perhaps you could consider humans as creative deviants, because some of the most interesting, wonderful things that we see in the world was born out of somebody thinking outside the norms of his time, ie deviating.

if you could excuse a platitude, deviations aren’t intrinsically bad.

ps. also, you seem to thinking that watching each other’s genitalia (except those of your legally wedded spouse) turn us into animals:
“Watching others genitals is a sin in Islam except your legally wedded spouse!
Because we are human beings NOT animals”

just how many animals spend their time ogling each other’s genitalia in the obsessive manner of humans? and how many animals have sex and reproduce?

it would seem that watching pornography, or even having a homosexual affair is less animal-like than copulating with your opposite sex for reproduction, because even though animals do engage in homosexual behaviour they predominantly have sex to reproduce.

so, if you desperately want to distinguish yourself from an animal, perhaps it would suffice to pull on a g-string and watch some porn as animals do neither.

heck on Mon, 30th Aug 2010 2:41 PM

What happened, MN? Too chicken to pulish my counter arguments to Shaz?

This is all too expected. I had a gut feeling that MN was all third class “hidden agenda” journalism !

Enjoy the cheap anti Islam blabbering that is called MN !

Here the comment you have chickened out to publish.

@Shaz

“Neither does homosexual sex negate heterosexual sex”

It DOES! Homosexuality causes deviation from the Purpose of Life. So it DOES negate!

“Ask any bisexual.”

Why ask a burglar about the reason for his actions? Important thing is to try and find the lost items. No need to waste time asking unnecessary questions.

“hammer down both the defendant and plaintiff.”

“blow on the head”

All negations! While your proposed actions are deviant and unjustifiable, creates havoc and disorder! So there your are scoring an “own goal” proving homosexuality negates justice and purpose!

“I see that you agree that hammering is not the only function of a hammer.”

You see the physical action is the same for all hammers like “hitting” the nail head! The difference is the exertion and the purpose sought in each scenario, but the action is the same – hammering or hitting!

So, No! I didn’t agree with you. Hammer still doesn’t hit hammer head!

“Implying that a hammer can be put to multiple uses. So can your genitals. My point exactly.”

Yes. Hammer can be put to multiple “uses” as long as the action of “hammering” is productive and does not NEGATE by being DESTRUCTIVE like you have proven with your “own goal”. Hammer hitting hammer head is DESTRUCTIVE and BLIND!

So you didn’t EXACTLY prove anything! Naught, Nil, Cipher & Zero!

-End-

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Posted in: Gossip

Maldives... the sunny side of life?

A deft slogan no doubt for a website promoting tourism to the Maldives, but not everyone will have the priviledge to see the sunny side of it, especially those seven locals who got arrested in December of 2009 for suspected homosexuality activity. In Maldives homosexuality is a crime and apparently the sun doesn't shine favourably on everyone.  

The following is taken from the ILGA report of 2009 regarding countries where being gay is a crime persecuted by law:

'The Penal Code of Maldives does not regulate sexual conduct. It is instead regulated by uncodified Muslim Sharia law, which criminalises homosexual acts between both men and between women. For men the punishment is banishment for nine months to one year or a whipping of 10 to 30 strokes, while the punishment for women is house arrest for nine months to one year. There have been reports of women being sentenced to a whipping as well for lesbian acts.' 

I should add the Maldives was also one of the 57 UN countries which not only opposed a statement for the decriminalization of homosexuality presented to the UN General Assembly on 18 Dec 2008 on the intitiative of France, but signed an opposing statement (backed mainly by Muslim countries), which saw the issue as mainly an internal affair and the legitimization of homosexuality as leading to deplorable acts such as paedophilia (the old rotten chestnut).

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Posted in: Politics / Religion

Prospects of Religious Freedom Appear Grim in Islamic Maldives

via Compass Direct News

Two years after political reforms, freedom of faith nowhere in sight.

MALÉ, Maldives, August 10 (CDN) — Visitors to this Islamic island nation get a sense of religious restrictions even before they arrive. The arrival-departure cards given to arriving airline passengers carry a list of items prohibited under Maldivian laws – including “materials contrary to Islam.”

After Saudi Arabia, the Maldives is the only nation that claims a 100-percent Muslim population. The more than 300,000 people in the Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago featuring 1,192 islets 435 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, are all Sunnis.

This South Asian nation, however, has more than 70,000 expatriate workers representing several non-Islamic religions, including Christianity.

Also, around 60,000 tourists, mainly from Europe, visit each year to enjoy the blue ocean and white beaches and normally head straight to one of the holiday resorts built on around 45 islands exclusively meant for tourism. Tourists are rarely taken to the other 200 inhabited islands where locals live.

Nearly one-third of the population lives in the capital city of Malé, the only island where tourists and Maldivians meet.

While the Maldivians do not have a choice to convert out of Islam or to become openly atheist, foreigners in the country can practice their religion only privately.

In previous years several Christian expats have either been arrested for attending worship in private homes or denied visas for several months or years on suspicion of being connected with mission agencies.

According to “liberal estimates,” the number of Maldivian Christians or seekers “cannot be more than 15,” said one source.

“Even if you engage any Maldivian in a discussion on Christianity and the person reports it to authorities, you can be in trouble,” the source said. “A Maldivian youth studying in Sri Lanka became a Christian recently, but when his parents came to know about it, they took him away. We have not heard from him since then.”

The source added that such instances are not uncommon in the Maldives.

“I wish I could attend church, but I am too scared to look for one,” said a European expat worker. “I have not even brought my Bible here; I read it online. I don’t want to take any chances.”

The British reportedly translated the Bible into the local language, Dhivehi, and made it available in the 19th century, as the Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 to 1965. Today no one knows how the Dhivehi Bible “disappeared.”

“A new translation has been underway for years, and it is in no way near completion,” said the source who requested anonymity.

Religion Excluded from Rights

The 2008 constitution, adopted five years after a popular movement for human rights began, states that a “non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.”

Abdulla Yameen, brother of the former dictator of the Maldives and leader of the People’s Alliance party, an ally of the opposition Dhivehi Raiyyathunge Party (Maldivian People’s Party or DRP), told Compass that the issue of religious freedom was “insignificant” for the Maldives.

“There’s no demand for it from the public,” Yameen said. “If you take a public poll, 99 percent of the citizens will say ‘no’ to religious freedom.”

Maldivians are passionate about their religion, Yameen added, referring to a recent incident in which a 37-year-old Maldivian citizen, Mohamed Nazim, was attacked after he told a gathering that he was not a Muslim. On May 28, before a crowd of around 11,000 Maldivians, Nazim told a visiting Indian Muslim televangelist, Zakir Naik, that although he was born to a practicing Muslim family, he was “struggling to believe in religions.”

He also asked Naik about his “verdict on Islam.” The question enraged an angry crowd, with many calling for Nazim’s death while others beat him. He received several minor injuries before police took him away.

“See how the public went after his [Nazim’s] throat,” said Yameen, who studied at Claremont Graduate University in California. When asked if such passion was good for a society, he replied, “Yes. We are an Islamic nation, and our religion is an important part of our collective identity.”

Asked if individuals had no rights, his terse answer was “No.” Told it was shocking to hear his views, he said, “We are also shocked when a nation legalizes gay sex.”

Mohamed Zahid, vice president of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, told Compass that the country has its own definition of human rights.

“It is to protect people’s rights under the sharia [Islamic law] and other international conventions with the exception of religious freedom,” he said. “We are a sovereign nation, and we follow our own constitution.”

Zahid and several other local sources told Compass that the issue of religious rights was “irrelevant” for Maldivians. “Not more than 100 people in the country want religious freedom,” Zahid said.

Politics of Religion

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a virtual dictator for 30 years until 2008, is generally held responsible for creating an atmosphere of religious restrictions in the Maldives, as he sought to homogenize religion in the country by introducing the state version of Sunni Islam. He also led a major crackdown on Christians.

The Protection of Religious Unity Act, enacted in 1994, was an endeavor to tighten the government’s control over mosques and all other Islamic institutions. The Gayoom administration even wrote Friday sermons to be delivered in mosques.

In 1998, Gayoom began a crackdown on alleged missionary activities.

“A radio station based out of India used to air Christian programs via the Seychelles, but the government came to know about it and ensured that they were discontinued with the help of the government in the Seychelles,” said a local Muslim source.

That year, Gayoom reportedly arrested around 50 Maldivians who were suspected to have converted to Christianity and deported 19 foreign workers accused of doing missionary work. A source said Gayoom apparently wanted to regain popularity at a time when his leadership was being questioned.

When the archipelago became a multi-party democracy in October 2008, new President Mohamed Nasheed, a former journalist and activist, was expected to pursue a liberal policy as part of the country’s reforms agenda.

Although Nasheed is the president, his party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has only 28 members and the support of four independents in the 77-member People’s Majlis (Maldives’ unicameral Parliament). Gayoom, now in his 70s and the leader of the largest opposition party, the DRP, has a simple majority – which presents difficulties in governance. Nasheed pleads helplessness in implementing reforms, citing an intransigent opposition.

Today Gayoom’s party accuses President Nasheed of not being able to protect the country’s distinct identity and culture, which the opposition says are rooted in Islam. The Gayoom-led parliament recently sought to impeach the education minister for proposing to make Islam and Dhivehi lessons optional – rather than mandatory – in high school.

To pre-empt the impeachment move, the whole cabinet of Nasheed resigned on June 29, which caused a major political crisis that led to violent street protests. The Nasheed administration allegedly arrested some opposition members, including Gayoom’s brother, Yameen. Political tensions and uncertainties continued at press time.

Now that President Nasheed’s popularity is declining – due to perceptions that he has become as authoritarian as his predecessor – it is feared that, amid immense pressure by the opposition to follow conservative policies, he might begin to follow in Gayoom’s footsteps.

Growing Extremism

Both the ruling and opposition parties admit that Islamic extremism has grown in the country. In October 2007, a group of young Maldivians engaged government security forces in a fierce shootout on Himandhoo Island.

Nasheed’s party alleges that Gayoom’s policy of promoting the state version of Sunni Islam created an interest to discern “true Islam,” with extremists from Pakistan stepping in to introduce “jihadism” in the Maldives. The DRP, on the other hand, says that behind the growth of extremism is the current government’s liberal policy of allowing Muslims of different sects to visit the Maldives to preach and give lectures, including the conservative Sunni sect of “Wahhabis.”

Until the early 1990s, Maldivian women would hardly wear the black burqa (covering the entire body, except the eyes and hands), and no men would sport a long beard – outward marks of Wahhabi Muslims, said the Muslim source, adding that “today the practice has become common.”

Still, Islam as practiced in the Maldives is pragmatic and unlike that of Saudi Arabia, he said. “People here are liberal and open-minded.”

As extremism grows, though, it is feared that radical Islamists may go to any extent to extra-judicially punish anyone suspected of being a missionary or having converted away from Islam, and that they can pressure the government to remain indifferent to religious freedom.

How long will it take for the Maldives to allow religious freedom?

“Maybe after the Maldivian government legalizes gay sex,” the Muslim source joked.

END

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Posted in: Politics / Religion,Society