Parliament debates on emergency motion over lack of action against extremism

South Henveiru MP Hussain Shaheem has presented an emergency motion to the Parliament regarding some of the alarming extremist and radical events and activities that have recently hit the headlines in the country.

The motion noted the recent activity by a group of people that turned up on Sh. Maungoodhoo and sprayed the logo of Islamic State in different locations across the island in an attempt to give the impression that the terrorist group had conquered the island. It was stated in the motion that this had created a sense of fear in the hearts of residents of the small island by people with extremist and radicalized ideologies.

The next issue focused on in the motion was the case of a 13-year old girl who was allegedly forced into a marriage with an older man who abused and impregnated her. Calls against this by the public since the news hit the headlines have been widely condemning and labeled the case as child abuse and rape.

The motion stated that children are still widely subjected to sexual abuse and undue influence that allows them to be taken advantage of by older people, despite the law stating that children must be protected from such dangers by the family, authorities and the community as a whole since they do not have a maturity and thinking equivalent to adults.

The motion noted the fact that the 13-year old was still subjected to the abuse after nearly a year of the authorities being notified of the case. MP Shaheem, who presented the resolution highlighted the failure by authorities to take action on the matter.

“I call on the authorities to take immediate action against those involved and negligent in such cases to ensure the safety and protection of children,” said MP Shaheem.

He also called on the government to take swift action over the fears that the country was on the verge of war. The motion was accepted by 41 MPs and is now under debate at the Parliament.