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I was shocked by news of plans to blow up Islamic Centre: Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he was shocked by the news of plans being made to blow up the Islamic Centre, and that the only religion allowed in the Maldives will be Islam.

He made this comment at a function held at Dharubaaruge last night by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Women’s Spirit.

Responding to rumours that the MDP government had plans to blow up the Islamic Centre to build a church at that location, Nasheed said that he was shocked to hear this and that he respects mosques.

“We were shocked to hear that there were plans to blow up the Islamic Centre. We, out of respect, remove our shoes and wash ourselves before entering mosques. We are afraid to spit inside a mosque. We will not allow any religion other than Islam in Maldives,” Nasheed said.

He went on to say that MDP will not ask the Police and Military to conduct a coup to overthrow President Waheed’s government, and that MDP will come to power by holding an election. He said that ‘traitor Police’ are arresting ‘patriotic police’, and attempts are being made to strengthen government institutions, and that he will not let this happen.

Referring to the arrest of former Head of Police Intelligence Chief Superintendent Mohamed Hameed, Nasheed said that the Police should be aware that Hameed has the support of a group of people.

He also said that it was a trait of Gayoom’s administration to keep citizens in fear, and that President Waheed’s government is attempting to do the same. However, Maldivians are now past the fear, encouraged, and at the verge of crossing over to the ‘Other Maldives’.

The former President said that those who overthrew the MDP government no longer say that they did not conduct a coup, rather, they say that they did not participate in a coup.

“Senior officials of the government often say that the government does not have money. Who asked them to take over a state that has no money? We know how to do things. We don’t talk about not being able to pay salaries. We know how to serve the people. That’s what we went out to do,” he said.

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