Shainee: Disrespecting King Salman is an attempt to weaken Islamic values

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture of Maldives has described making disrespectful comments regarding King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia was an attempt to weaken Islamic values.

Minister Dr. Mohamed Shainee made the remark in response to concern and criticism over the Saudi Arabian project under negotiation in F. Atoll. The opposition has criticized the project, alleging that F. Atoll was being “sold” to a foreign government and pledging to work to stop the project from taking place.

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has denied F. Atoll was being “sold”, announcing last Wednesday that Saudi Arabian government was interested in running a USD 10 billion project in F. Atoll.

The government has reported details of the project would be released once the negotiations were done.

King Salman is due to visit Maldives this month as part of his tour of the South Asian region amid the controversy.

Though it will mark the first time for a Saudi King to visit Maldives, King Salman has made four previous visits to Maldives before when he had been the Crown Prince.