Extremists such as those in al-Qaeda, do not exist in Maldives: Islamic Minister

Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that there are no Islamic extremists in Maldives such as those in Al-Qaeda, and that there is no threat of Maldives being attacked by religious radicals.

Shaheem said this in an interview with Sun Online, following former President Mohamed Nasheed’s statements that Maldives has become dominated by Islamic extremists and is vulnerable to al-Qaeda attacks.

Shaheem said that al-Qaeda has no such influence on the Maldives.

“The truth is that there is no such thing here. Because we are a democratic nation, people can say what they want. People express their views. I don’t believe that people with extremist beliefs, who could encourage terrorism, exist here,” he said.

Shaheem said that the government will not allow extremist groups to attack Maldives.

Shaheem referred to Nasheed’s claims that officials of Islamic Ministry are religious extremists, and said that officials of Islamic Ministry will not act as an obstruction to non-Muslims visiting Maldives.

“We are not an obstruction to tourists. Our hope is that the Maldives is a peaceful place for tourists,” he said. “Nasheed makes these statements to cover up his failures, and to obtain international support.”

Shaheem also said that Nasheed is making up lies, in order to keep Maldives on the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).

Nasheed has said in an interview with UK’s The Independent that anti-Western feeling has dramatically increased recently within Maldives, with the potential for attacks.