No determined penalty for calling for religious freedom: Dr Majeed

Islamic Minister Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Baaree has said today that Islam does not state a penalty for calling for religious freedom, and that no legal action can be taken against those who do so in the Maldives.

When summoned to the National Defence Committee regarding the call for religious freedom by about 20 people at the Artificial beach on 10 December, Dr Majeed said that according to legal experts, no trial can be held against those who call for religious freedom and that there is no determined penalty for it.

“They say that the only penalty these people can be subjected to is the one under section 88a of the Penal Code. A separate penalty for calling for religious freedom does not exist,” Dr Majeed said.

The punishment under 88a of the Penal Code is banishment for a maximum of six months, imprisonment, house arrest, or a fine of no more than Rf 250.

Dr Majeed said that this is a “light” penalty for such an offence, and that when the Penal Code is revised, suitable penalties for such offences should also be determined.

“Section 88a of the Penal Code says something like banishment for six months or payment of a fine of Rf 150. These are very light punishments. It applies to people who commit acts which conflict with the law, or something like that. So when I asked legal experts, they say that these cases cannot be taken to court under the Maldivian Law. There is no law that allows us to argue in this regard,” Dr Majeed said. “I request from the Parliament, that penalties are determined for this when the Penal Code is revised,” Dr Majeed said.

Speaking on this issue from a religious perspective, Dr Majeed said that calling for religious freedom does not mean one is not a Muslim anymore, and Sharia does not state a penalty for this. He also said that calling for religious freedom is in direct conflict with religious solidarity in the Maldives.

“They are working against the country’s religious solidarity. There is no penalty until one says that he does not believe in Islam. So I do not believe that there is a penalty for this in Islam,” Dr Majeed said. “They did not say that they are no longer Muslims. What they called for was the freedom to practice any religion. There is no penalty determined for that.”