No other presidency granted more freedom to religious scholars than the current regime- Shaheem

Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that no other presidency of the Maldives granted more freedom to religious scholars than the current administration of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Sheikh Shaheem said that religious scholars were harassed and tortured in the Maldives by the government before the year 2008. He said that many scholars suffered long periods of detention and harassment by the government.

Sheikh Shaheem noted that the next government, the government of MDP also harassed the scholars using different tactics than the previous regime. He said that the scholars were faced with many challenges during Nasheed’s rule.

He said that MDP tried to tarnish the image of the scholars and depict them as terrorists and renegades in the international community.

The Minister expressed gratitude for the current administration for granting freedom for the religious scholars. He said that the scholars face no form of harassment from the current government and the government fully cooperates with the scholars in fostering Islamic awareness in the country.

Minister Shaheem noted that the ministry is now trying to cooperate with the religious scholars and help them under one umbrella.

In addition to this, Sheikh Shaheem rebutted the claims of some that there is no freedom of expression in Maldives. He said that if these people have looked into the former situation of the religious scholars in Maldives and compared it to the current situation they would have known that there is freedom of expression in the Maldives now.