Shidhatha denies involvement in any pro-extremist activity

Gender Minister Shidhatha Shareef says she never took part in any activity designed to promote and encourage religious extremism.

She made the comment in a short statement via her official Twitter account on Saturday after a photo of a woman holding the Islamic State flag in a rally in Male’ City – tagged as Shidhatha – began circulating over social media platforms.

Shidhatha said that it wasn’t her on the photo.

ފޮޓޯގައިވާ ފަރާތަކީ އަޅުގަނޑުކަމަށް ސިފަކޮށް ބައެއް ފަރާތްތަކުން ޙަޤީޤަތާ ޚިލާފު މަޢުލޫމާތު ޢާންމުކުރާތީ ހިތާމަކުރަން. ހަރުކަށި ފިކުރު ފަތުރައި އެ ފަދަ ކަންކަމަށް ހިތްވަރު ދިނުމުގެ ގޮތުން އެއްވެސް ހަރަކާތެއްގައި އަޅުގަނޑު ބައިވެރިވެފައި ނުވާނެ ވާހަކަ މި ފުރުޞަތުގައި ދަންނަވަން. pic.twitter.com/sH9dZQMZYK

— Shidhatha Shareef (@shidhatha) November 23, 2019

“I take this opportunity to clarify I have never taken part in any activity to promote the spread of extremist views or encourage it,” said Shidhatha.

She said that she was saddened by the attempt to discredit her through the spread of misinformation.

The newly revised Counter-Terrorism Act establishes expressing support for a terrorist group or possession of merchandise with the logo or flag of such a group as a criminal offense.

The allegation against Shidhatha came over a weekend in which Maldives saw two crimes linked with religious extremism in the atolls.

One of the crimes took place in Sh. Maaungoodhoo which saw a group of four strangers travel to the island on a fishing boat and tag walls with the IS flag before leaving the island at midnight on Friday; the other took place off the coast of A. A. Maalhos in the early hours of Friday. It saw a man who was stabbed and thrown overboard a fishing boat following a disagreement with the rest of the crew swim to the island to seek help. Both the victim of the stabbing and the rest of the crew are alleged religious extremists.