President has made very dangerous statements: Sheikh Imran

Sheikh Imran Abdullah, President of the opposition Adhaalath Party has said that President Mohamed Nasheed has made very dangerous statements in a press conference held at Kurumba Maldives resort yesterday.

Informing Miadhu Daily of the allegedly dangerous remarks of President Nasheed, Sheikh Imran said that the President implied that alcoholic beverages should be sold in City Hotels that are to be built in inhabited islands if they are to be sold to tourists in the resorts. He said that the President also indirectly supported the idea of opening up spas in these City Hotels.

“Moreover I noted from his speech that the government considers opening opportunities for gambling. The President said that opening casinos will increase the popularity of Maldives among the tourists. He said that he wants the Supreme Court to clarify to him whether this should be opened as another service for the tourists,” Sheikh Imran said.

Imran said that developing economies such as neighbouring India also heavily restricts casinos for gambling.

“India prohibits such gambling houses because the harm is greater than its good. Isn’t this known?,” he said.

Sheikh Imran said he believes that President Nasheed stated that the majority of the tourists visiting Maldives are of Jewish faith based on false information.

“See the percentage of the population of Jews in the countries such as France, Italy, Germany and England. In France it is only 3.6%. In Italy it is 0.20%. In England it is 2.2%. In Netherlands it is only 0.21 %. In Switzerland it is 0.13%. These percentages are not the percentage of Jewish tourists visiting Maldives, but rather these  are the total percentages of the population of Jews in these countries. Then let’s see the percentage of Jews in Chine, there is actually none recorded. As for India, I have not heard of Jews in India. So the intent of whoever is giving false information to the President is questionable,” he said.