Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has firmly rejected the notion that the Maldives is an extremist or radical nation, stressing that such concerns are being comprehensively addressed through both legal and educational channels.
Speaking at the Ahaa Forum, a public dialogue series organized by the President’s Office and Public Service Media (PSM), Dr. Shaheem responded to a question from the audience, highlighting that the Maldives, as an entirely Islamic country, enjoys a stronger sense of unity than many other Islamic nations.
The Minister pointed out that the people of the Maldives follow the Sunni school of Islamic thought, historically adhering to moderate religious principles. He emphasized that extremism and radical ideologies are rare within Maldivian society.
“There are no religious divisions in the Maldives. Our citizens practice and uphold moderate religious values, and extremism is not a common issue here. Whenever such ideologies emerge in isolated individuals, we tackle them through legal and academic frameworks,” Dr. Shaheem explained.
He further emphasized that the Maldives faces fewer challenges related to extremism compared to other nations and that any such cases are managed effectively within the country’s established legal and educational systems.
Addressing international concerns about the Maldives being labeled as an extremist state, Dr. Shaheem urged those making such claims to reconsider their perspective. He highlighted the Maldives' commitment to peace, respect for all people, and kindness toward individuals of different faiths, noting that these values contradict the characterization of the country as radical.
“The Maldives is a nation that respects all people, values peace, and is compassionate towards people of all faiths. Therefore, there is no foundation for calling the Maldives an extremist society,” he stated.
The Government continues to implement initiatives to safeguard the country from extremist ideologies, including educational programs such as the national Risaalath initiative, aimed at promoting awareness of Islamic principles and addressing such concerns.
