We are hearing the call for a change: President

While some people are calling for the protection of Islam in the country, the reality of it is that people are calling for a change in the way things are done in the Maldives, President Nasheed said today.

Speaking in his weekly radio address, he said that Maldives has once again arrived at a crossroad, and the question this time is how religion should be dealt with in the country. And while people are raising their voices because things are starting to change, we now have to decide if this is the best way to go or not, the President said.

“The way I see it, we now have to choose between the way things were done in the past, and the changes we are starting to hear about today. We have to decide which is better,” the President said.

He said that it is evident how religious issues were dealt with in the past in Maldives, and things are done similarly today. And this is decided by the Law.

“It is clearly stated in the Constitution that the country’s religion is Islam. And all laws and regulations in the country shall follow the basic rules of Islam,” President Nasheed said.

The practice till today has been to follow the Islamic rules, however, punishments such as stoning, cutting off the hand and death sentence have always been pardoned by the state. Canning, however, has not been dealt with in this manner.

He also said that MDP has made the decision to join the protests on 23 December and protest peacefully, in order to explain what people are trying to say with regard to things not having been done in the best possible way in the past, and also to come to a decision with regard to this issue. Also, opposition parties need to educate the public about the desired outcome of amending the laws.

“The way I see it, DRP, PPM, Republican Party and all other parties need to inform the public about their views and ideologies behind these issues. MDP needs to do the same,” the President said.

He said that one conclusion made by MDP is that, the government will base its actions with regard to religion, on the advice of religious scholars. And MDP will continue to act in this manner.

The President said that the constitution needs to be amended and new law implemented in the next session of the Majlis.

“My hope is that the new law be implemented during the new session of the Majlis which is about to start. My hope is that this is not delayed further, a decision is made and law is implemented soon,” the President said.