Maldives condemns terrorist ideologies and activities

Former President Dr Mohamed Waheed has condemned terrorist groups, their ideologies, and their activities, and called on the world to take decisive actions to defeat them.

The former President made this remark in his statement yesterday, as the Special Envoy of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, at the General Debate of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Today, the world has a choice to make. Should we allow extremists to shape our future? Or should we take decisive actions to defeat these extremist ideologies? Our answer to these questions will define the way in which we deal with the so-called Islamic State and other terrorist groups. These groups are not only un-Islamic. In fact, they are anti-Islamic. These are terrorist organisations, not religious groups. Islam, our great religion of peace, compassion, and tolerance, is being hijacked by radical and extremist elements to perpetuate hatred and violence. We, the Government and the people of Maldives, condemn in the strongest terms, these groups, their ideologies, and their activities. We join our fellow Muslims around the world in saying ‘not in my name’,” said Dr Waheed.

The former President also highlighted the attacks on Gaza in July this year, and reminded that though “the guns stopped firing” and the “bombs stopped dropping”, the siege is not over. He called on relevant groups to do more to help realise the dream of peace in the Middle East, and a two-state solution; and to resume peace-talks with a clear goal and an endpoint in mind.