Islamic Minister refutes Nasheed

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has refuted the recent claim by Mohamed Nasheed, former president and presidential candidate of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), that 42 mosques were built during the three years of MDP government.

Dr Shaheem said that the ministry’s documents show that Nasheed’s government laid the foundation stone for only two mosques.

Shaheem said that the government of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, on the other hand, laid foundation stones and completed major work on more than 33 mosques.

He said that Nasheed’s government completed some of these projects that were started by Gayoom’s government.

Dr Shaheem also denied Nasheed’s claim that the Islamic Bank was opened during his government, and said that this project was initiated by the government of Gayoom with Ibrahim Gasim as Finance Minister.

He further said that Nasheed’s claim that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs was established as part of MDP’s ideology was also a lie.

Dr Shaheem said that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs was established after repeated requests in this regard by Adhaalath Party and Jumhooree Party.