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Maldives censors Christians and dissidents
by Scott Gilbreath ~ March 18th, 2009
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the Maldives has been busy blocking access to dissident, Christian, and other unIslamic websites. Ironically, this occurs only one week after President Mohamed Nasheed announced his intention to make the Maldives a safe haven for oppressed journalists from other countries.
The list of websites banned by Anni’s [Nasheed’s] government is growing, all of them on the orders of the Ministry of Islam. According to Haveeru, eight websites have been blocked so far for allegedly publishing anti-Islamic and pro-Christianity content in the Dhivehi, the Maldivian language.
Blogger Jawish Hameed identifies several blocked sites and possible reasons for banning them.
Seedhaahithun.com, sidahitun.com and gospelgo.com were apparently blocked for “promoting Christianity”. The reason for blocking RaajjeIslam a few days ago is unknown and according to the media, the MoIA has not offered an explanation. As has been noted by Minivan News and Haveeru News, the website was blocked after they published an audio clip of Mohamed Shakeeb, an Imam at Shaviyani Atoll Foakaidhoo, claiming that he has been threatened by the State Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.
Another Maldivian blogger points out that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs is controlled by an opposition political party.
The population of the Maldives is over 99 percent Muslim and the country has in the past been inhospitable to Christians and other religious minorities. The constitution of the Republic of Maldives, ratified by former President Gayoom in August 2008, states that “a non-Muslim may not become a citizen” and that “no law contrary to any tenet of Islam may be enacted”.
President Nasheed, a one-time political dissident, took office in November 2008 after free multi-party elections. The current internet censorship campaign would appear to be an attempt by hard-line elements in the state bureaucracy to hamper his efforts to enhance democracy and personal freedoms in the Maldives. Some are wondering if he has the stomach to fight “the threat facing Maldivian democracy”.
h/t: Global Voices
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