Issue of anti-Islam film heats up in Maldives

Protesters have burnt the US flag and threatened US Ambassador to Maldives Michele J. Sison, in demonstrations against the US film mocking Prophet Muhammad.

Religious groups at today’s protest held near the United Nations Building in Male’ said that the Maldives has no need for foreign Ambassadors, and called on Maldivians to demonstrate against the US and Zionist Jews, whose activities against Muslims will never end.

Protesters also issued warnings to the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Maldives Sir Donald McKinnon.

Sir Donald is a citizen and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and the Commonwealth has nothing to do with the US.

The protest began in front of Billabong High International School. Police had blocked the area near the UN Building.

As the demonstrations heated up, protesters broke through police barricades and attempted to enter the UN Building. They threw stones and sticks at the building.

Police used pepper spray to control these activities.

Protesters burned the flags of the US and Israel in front of the UN Building. A protester criticised the current government, and said that the Maldives does not need democracy. He also called for the resignation of Islamic Minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.

Calls for the Islamic Minister’s resignation came following his speech he gave through media, in which he said that it is fine to express sentiments, but urged protesters to refrain from creating violence, and advised them to exercise restraint.

When Sheikh Mohamed Thoyyib addressed the crowd, some people sat down and listened to him; however soon after, a group began shouting at him, resulting in loud verbal exchanges between the two groups.

Protesters also threw the sticks used to carry posters at Sheikh Thoyyib.

As the violence escalated, it was announced that the protest had come to an end.

They announced that today’s demonstration was the first of a series of demonstrations to defend Prophet Muhammad.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has condemned the anti-Islam film, and said that acts which mock any religion will not be accepted; and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the US government has nothing to do with the film.