Sheikh expelled from Maafushi after allegations that his sermons were dividing the community

The people of Kaafu Maafushi have expelled a Sheikh from the island after accusing him of giving sermons that were dividing the island community.

Protests against the Sheikh had prompted the police to escort him off the island last night.

A large group of locals protested neared “Thahuseenul Quran”, a Quran recitation center in Kaafu Maafushi run by Sheikh Ibrahim Rasheed last night. The protests lost order, prompting police in riot protection gear to arrive on the island and control the crowd.

Sheikh Ibrahim Rasheed is licensed to lead prayers including Friday prayer and give religious sermons to the general public.

Ali Nasheed, the man in charge of the Maafushi Council administration said last night’s protests were sparked by sermons by the Sheikh Ibrahim Rasheed that discouraged parents from sending their children to school. He said that some of the parents in the island have stopped sending their children to school, following the Sheikh's advice.

“People have stopped educating their children due to these religious divisions. Withdrawing girls from their schools, these things will not be accepted in any society. Islam strongly encourages education, we cannot believe that it is something religious. The purpose was not to oppose Islam. This was for exaggerating how things really are in the religion, not sending children to school is not something that the people will accept,” Ali Nasheed said.

He said that a small community in the island has recently started to follow the Sheikh's words and that the matter has been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities.

Tensions in Kaafu Maafushi was heightened recently, after an incidents where a few parents had expressed discontent regarding the Children’s Day celebrations on the 10th of this month, when the island’s preschool had conducted certain activities by playing nursery rhymes to the children. A few parents had stopped taking their children to school after the incident.

The island’s Women’s Development Committee, the body that currently runs the preschool has stated that any concerns regarding the school's activities can be taken be duely up with the school's authorities.