MDP PG: Will not allow Islam to be wielded as a political weapon

Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) Parliamentary Group (PG) has stated that they voted to reject the emergency motion submitted to the parliament on Monday over the Maldivian government’s failure to condemn the remarks by India’s ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) senior officials slandering Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) as they will now allow for the Islamic religion to be wielded as a political weapon. 

In a statement released on Monday night, MDP’s PG said that their decision to reject the emergency motion submitted by Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef was backed by many reasons. In this regard, they stressed that they did not wish to allow the chance for opposition to adversely wield the Islamic religion and Prophet Muhammad’s name as a political weapon.

MDP’s PG, in their statement, alleged that the emergency motion submitted regarding the slander of Prophet Muhammed was actually a ruse for political gains. One of such gains they had cited was turning Maldivian citizens against the government.

The statement also underscored that the Maldivian government had condemned the remarks made by BJP’s senior officials slandering Prophet Muhammed. It further went onto state that the government will always raise voice against acts of slander on the Islamic religion and Prophet Muhammed.

The emergency motion filed by Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef on Monday was rejected by the votes of 33 parliamentarians; with only 10 parliamentarians voting to accept it – totally 43 parliamentarians taking part in the vote.

Following this, the government had issued a statement condemning the derogatory remarks made by BJP’s senior officials in which they had also welcomed the Indian government’s denouncement of the remarks.

The remarks slandering Prophet Muhammed have also been condemned by Adhaalath Party, Jumhoory Party, Opposition Coalition and Maldives National Party amongst other local entities in separate statements released on Monday.

Meanwhile, many foreign relations bodies of Islamic countries had summoned Indian ambassadors – handing over official documents denouncing the remarks made by the officials and demanding apologies from the Indian government and BJP. These countries include Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabiya, Kuwait and Oman.

Apart from this, citizens of Muslim countries and youths residing at non-Muslim countries have commenced campaigns urging the boycott of Indian products.

Prophet Muhammad was slandered by BJP’s National Spokesperson Nupur Sharma and New Delhi’s Media Operation Head Naveen Kumar Jindal. Whilst Sharma has been suspended from the party over the matter, Jindal has been expelled.