Islamic Affairs Minister: Maldives does not support IS

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that the Maldivian government does not support the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS).

This follows allegations by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members, former Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem and former parliamentarian Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, in an interview to Indian paper The New Indian Express, that the Maldivian Islamic Affairs Minister was behind sending some Maldivians to Syria – and funding these operations.

Responding to these allegations, Dr Shaheem said on Twitter, “The Maldivian Islamic Ministry does not support IS ideologies. This has been announced repeatedly.”

Dhivehi raajjeyge islami ministry in IS ge fikurakah thaaidheh nukuraane. mikan thakuraarukoh vaanee haamakoffa

— ?.???? ???? ??? ???? (@Mohamedshaheem1) February 21, 2015

Earlier, Dr Shaheem called on Maldivians not to participate in “sectarian wars” where women, children, and the elderly were being killed. He said that all young Muslims should refrain from supporting such activities.

The number of Maldivians traveling to Syria to join the war is on the rise. Some of them have been caught while on their way, and returned to Maldives by the police.