There
were media reports that Zakir Naik had spoken in praise of the perpetrators of
the 9/11 attack and is said to have justified violence on those who committed
violence! What happens to a citizen of Maldives who renounces Islam? He cannot
be deprived of citizenship and yet he cannot continue as a "citizen" either.
This is a constitutional problem for which there is no ready answer and such a
piquant happened very recently during the lecture of Dr. Zakir Naik.
In a question and answer session of Dr. Naik, one Mohamed Nazim from
the audience publicly declared that he is not a believer of Islam. This response
would not have risen if Dr. Naik had not asked personal and intrusive questions.
The media reported that Nazim was attacked by some of the people in the audience
and the Police had to intervene and take him into custody. The opposition DRP
called upon the government to take strong action against Nazim for apostasy. The
local Islamic NGO went further and asked for death sentence for Nazim if he did
not repent. There is no law in the constitution by which action could be taken
against Nazim nor could the citizenship be taken away as per article 9 b of the
Constitution. The only way will be to apply Shariah under article 142 of the
Constitution and death sentence under Shariah is the only remedy!. -- Dr. S. Chandrasekharan, SAAG
MALDIVES: Protect Islam, But Avoid Using It As A
Political Tool
By Dr. S. Chandrasekharan,
SAAG
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Maldives: While in Police Custody and Given Government "Islamic
Counseling," Mohamed Nazim "Reverts" to Islam
Maldives is a hundred percent Muslim country. Article 2 of the
Constitution stipulates that Maldives is a sovereign, independent, democratic
Republic based on the principles of Islam. Article 9 d states that no non Muslim
can become a citizen of the Maldives even if he or she fulfills all the other
criteria like being born to the citizens of Maldives etc. The same article 9 b
also stipulates that no citizen of the Maldives may be deprived of
citizenship.
The President, Vice President and all the Cabinet ministers should
not only be Muslims but also belong to the Sunni sect of
Islam.
It therefore places a heavy responsibility on the present government
in question to tread a careful path in developing democracy and at the same time
ensure that there is no deviation of any citizen from his/her adherence to
Islam. It is claimed that it is possible to establish such a balance and it will
be interesting to see how Maldives under the present President Nasheed who in
many ways is a liberal himself is able to manage his country and keeps it safe
from extremism.
In the days of Gayoom, it was easy to keep track of visitors and
prevent elements holding extremist views from visiting or from preaching, but in
a democracy as is being practised now, it is difficult for the present
government to prevent such visitors from coming in or from such persons making
rigid interpretation of Islam.
The result is that on the invitation of religious NGOs within the
islands or from the Islamic ministry itself, visitors with dubious background
are allowed to come preach without restraint.
One Dr. Phillips a convert from UK? who was invited by the Islamic
NGO- Jamiyyathulsalaf under the programme "The Call 2010, spoke to a big
audience of the weakness of democracy and how it contributes to the "destruction
of society." He was speaking in a country that is yet to find its feet fully in
democracy.
Invitation to Phillips was part of the "jihad to establish in
Maldives what the NGO considers as an Islamic State." Besides suggesting
Islamisation of education, Phillips spoke of the dangers of secularism which
according to him is the religion of democracies.
Praising Sharaih he made the claim of its necessity in Maldives and
commented that "where heads are cut off, hands are chopped and people are
lashed- such societies enjoy peace and stability." He was particularly referring
to Saudi Arabia where he spent many years and claimed that he did not even have
to close the main door of his house. Of course, he did not add that most of the
terrorists involved in the 9/11 attack were also from Saudi
Arabia.
Another "world renowned" scholar/visitor was Dr. Zakir Naik who made
a second visit to the country. His visit was at the invitation of the Ministry
of Islamic Affairs of the Government. Dr. Naik was banned from entry into UK
when he wanted to give a lecture on "freedom of expression." There were media
reports that Zakir Naik had spoken in praise of the perpetrators of the 9/11
attack and is said to have justified violence on those who committed
violence!
What happens to a citizen of Maldives who renounces Islam? He cannot
be deprived of citizenship and yet he cannot continue as a "citizen" either.
This is a constitutional problem for which there is no ready answer and such a
piquant happened very recently during the lecture of Dr. Zakir
Naik.
In a question and answer session of Dr. Naik, one Mohamed Nazim from
the audience publicly declared that he is not a believer of Islam. This response
would not have risen if Dr. Naik had not asked personal and intrusive questions.
The media reported that Nazim was attacked by some of the people in the audience
and the Police had to intervene and take him into custody.
The opposition DRP called upon the government to take strong action
against Nazim for apostasy. The local Islamic NGO went further and asked for
death sentence for Nazim if he did not repent.
There is no law in the constitution by which action could be taken
against Nazim nor could the citizenship be taken away as per article 9 b of the
Constitution. The only way will be to apply Shariah under article 142 of the
Constitution and death sentence under Shariah is the only
remedy!.
In the end, after two days, Nazim publicly recanted and declared that
the misconception he had, has been since clarified and that he wanted to become
a Muslim again. It is said that the authorities sent two scholars to counsel
Nazim when he was in custody and persuaded him to repent.!
One cannot forget the problems faced by the former Attorney General
and Presidential candidate Dr. Hasan Saeed for his innocent book on apostasy and
freedom of expression. My paper 2348 of 25th June 2008 may be referred
to.
Nazim's incident should not be seen in isolation. What is
disconcerting is the way the political parties are using Islam as a political
tool of furthering their political ends. In fact, the Presidential office did
accuse the opposition of using Islam as a political tool. This is a dangerous
trend.
A deliberate and a virulent campaign is being mounted against the
poor Education minister Dr.Mustahafa Luthfee by the opposition and a no
confidence motion is being sponsored in the Majlis against him. All he did was
to make the study of Islam "optional" in class 11 and 12!
Dr. Luthfee was frank enough not only to admit that the study of
Islam is not a favourite subject of the students, but also to declare that he is
trying is to train the students to become world students rather than narrowing
their perspective. One good thing is that the education minister is being fully
supported by the President.
There is another case though not directly related to the current
issue is still of interest on the role religion is playing and would continue to
play in the lives of ordinary citizens. There was a simple case of one Sulath
Abdulla who verbally abused a doctor in the IGMH when he was not satisfied with
the treatment given. Criminal proceedings were taken against him by the State,
but the court ruled in favour of Abdulla on the ground that "there was no law
that prohibited such incidents." The State went on an appeal to the High Court
which overturned the criminal court's ruling and imposed a house arrest of four
months on the accused. The reasoning given by the High Court was that where
there are no laws, article 142 (a) mandates the judge to refer to Islam. The
Judge went on to say that verbal abuse, threats and actions that would
destabilise social and economic systems are prohibited in Islam! It is not clear
as to who or how he got this interpretation or whether he is authorised to make
such an interpretation of Islamic Shariah.
Maldives after being long in isolation is joining the international
community in a big way. Its voice is heard in any discussion on global warming.
It is a member in the UN Human Rights Council. The MDP has close relations with
the conservative party of Britain. Many of the leaders have studied abroad. A
large number of students ( large indeed for a small country like Maldives) are
studying abroad and will return with some idea of western values. In such a
globalised world, the returnees and those having modern education are sure to
put pressure on the government to ease up. Extreme conservative views are likely
to be resisted. Article 24 of the Constitution gives a right to the citizen to
respect for his private and family life, his home and his private
communications. Rigid enforcement will bring in a reaction sooner or
later.
Protect Islam by all means, as it is mandated by the constitution,
but avoid its misuse or use as a political tool.
http://www.eurasiareview.com/201006273945/maldives-protect-islam-but-avoid-using-it-as-a-political-tool.html
SAAG
SAAG is the South Asia Analysis Group, a non-profit, non-commercial
think tank. The objective of SAAG is to advance strategic analysis and
contribute to the expansion of knowledge of Indian and International security
and promote public understanding. In so doing, the SAAG seeks to address the
decision makers, strategic planners, academics and the media in South Asia and
the world at large. The group holds the concept of strategy in its broadest
meaning-including mobilization and application of all resources to understand
national and international security. The aim of the group is not to compete with
Governments, Academics, NGOs or other institutions dealing with strategic
analysis and national security but to provide another point of view for the
decision makers and other national/international think
tanks.
http://www.eurasiareview.com/201006273945/maldives-protect-islam-but-avoid-using-it-as-a-political-tool.html
Background Stories
Maldives: Arrested Man Reverts to Islam - in Police
Custody
In the Maldives, Mohamed Nazim has announced his "reversion" to
Islam, after being taken into police custody after publicly announcing that he
was not a Muslim on May 28, 2010. As
reported in our previous posting "Maldives: Man Attacked, Threatened with Death,
for Freedom of Conscience," Mohamed Nazim had announced that he was not a Muslim
at a lecture by Zakir Naik (who widely calls for the death penalty for
"apostates"), and then was promptly taken into police custody and given
"counseling" by the Maldives government Islamic Ministry. Mohamed Nazim made his public "reversion" to
Islam at the Maldives government Islamic Ministry before journalists invited by
the Islamic Ministry.
Mohamed Nazim was brought before Maldivian media to make a statement
to the press about his "reversion" to Islam, while the police are still deciding
whether or not to bring criminal charges against Mohamed Nazim for choosing his
freedom of conscience.
A Maldivian lawyer previously told the Maldives press that Mohamed
Nazim had to be given such government "Islamic counseling" before capital
punishment charges were considered against Mohamed Nazim for
"apostasy."
Haveeru News stated that: "Mohamed Nazim, 38, repented and gave the
'Shahaadha' testimony before journalists at the Islamic Ministry Tuesday with a
public apology." It quoted Mohamed Nazim
as stating "And as that action was very much related to the feelings of all
Maldivians, I believe that it was an agony for the Maldivian people. I deeply
apologize for that to all the Maldivians. Along with that, I would like to say
that the major misconceptions I had regarding Islam have been clarified.
Therefore, I am now a Muslim. I want Maldivians to accept me as a Maldivian and
as a child of this community."
Maldives: While in Police Custody and Given Government "Islamic
Counseling," Mohamed Nazim "Reverts" to IslamThe Maldives Deputy Minister for
Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Farooq told Haveeru News that Mohamed Nazim
reverted to Islam "on freewill" (while in police custody).
The Minivan News also reported on the "reversion" of Mohamed Nazim
while in police custody. The Minivan
News further reported that the Maldivian NGO the "Islamic Foundation" leader
Jammiyyathu Salaf Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohamed stated that there were "many people
trying to introduce other religions to the Maldives underground" and that he
would "release the names of these underground people at the appropriate
time."
On May 13, 2010, the Maldives was elected to be part of the United
Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The Maldives constitution mandates that all citizens of Maldives must
be Muslims. A December 2009 study
showed the Maldives (with a 99 percent literacy rate) to be in the top 5 percent
of the worst nations for religious freedom. It is a nation that has been
building its criminal law based on Sharia law, and whose Parliament bans
non-Islamic houses of worship. There have been repeated reports on Maldives
government publicly whipping of women and the Maldives is in the bottom rankings
of nations with a global gender gap.
http://beforeitsnews.com/news/71/036/Maldives:_Arrested_Man_Reverts_to_Islam_-_in_Police_Custody.html
---
Maldives: Man Attacked, Threatened with Death, for Freedom of
Conscience
By R.E.A.L. Organization • on May 30, 2010
In the Muslim-majority nation of Maldives, a man stunned an audience
during questions and answers period in a lecture given by an Islamic cleric, by
stating that he had chosen freedom of conscience not to follow Islam. The man, Mohamed Nazim, was promptly
attacked, taken into custody, and has been threatened with death and beheading,
or other punishments for choosing his freedom of conscience. Maldives media are reporting that it is the
first time in many hundreds of years that a Maldivian has publicly renounced
Islam, since Sultan King Hassan IX converted to Christianity in 1552 and was
deposed.
The Maldives constitution mandates that all citizens of Maldives must
be Muslims. A December 2009 study
showed the Maldives (with a 99 percent literacy rate) to be in the top 5 percent
of the worst nations for religious freedom. It is a nation that has been
building its criminal law based on Sharia law, and whose Parliament bans
non-Islamic houses of worship. There have been repeated reports on Maldives
government publicly whipping of women and the Maldives is in the bottom rankings
of nations with a global gender gap.
The Maldives is also a nation that, on May 13, 2010, was elected to
be part of the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC).
The Haveeru newspaper reported that Mohamed Nazim came up to ask a
question of Islamic cleric Zakir Naik, stating “Dr Zakir Naik. I am a Maldivian.
I am still struggling to believe in religion. That is why I just came to the
front of this row. I was born a Maldivian. My parents taught me the religion of
Islam. They are good practitioners, actually. I read a lot of books. I have read
the translation of Quran. Yet, I still do not believe in a religion. So what do
you say, [about] my verdict in Islam?”
Islamic cleric Zakir Naik asked “are you a Muslim?” and Mohamed Nazim replied “I am not.” Zakir Naik
has a long history of calling for the death penalty for “apostates” in
both Muslim majority nations and other parts of the world.
The Haveeru newspaper reported that Zakir Naik responded by stating:
“according to Prophetic traditions, every child is born as a Muslim and that a
Muslim is one who submits his/her will to God. In Islam, death penalty should
not necessarily be evoked on every person who leaves Islam, but to those who
propagate the non-Islamic faith and speak against Islam, he
added.”
The Haveeru newspaper report states that his question “sparked
comments of hatred from an angry crowd of around 11,000 with many calling to
kill him and attack him, while Naik was answering the question. Several people
rushed towards Nazim, who was sitting at a back row after moving away from the
microphone, as an official of the Islamic Ministry tried to escort him out.
Police, however, came between Nazim and the crowd and escorted him into
custody.” The Haveeru newspaper report
also stated that a crowed gathered outside the police station and demanded that
Mohamed Nazim be handed over to the crowd.
The Haveeru newspaper report stated that “They shouted anti-atheism
slogans and called for Nazim’s beheading.”
In a separate report, the Haveeru newspaper stated that Maldives
Islamic Ministry would arrange for religious “counseling” for Mohamed Nazim
while he is in custody.
Another report by the Haveeru newspaper stated how Maldives lawyers
felt that Mohamed Nazim deserved such counseling before receiving the death
penalty or other punishments, stating that: “While some local lawyers claim
Nazim is eligible for punishment both by Maldives laws and Islamic Shari’a,
others argue only Shari’a could be evoked on him. Mohamed Ibrahim Waheed, a defense lawyer said
Nazim must first be counseled giving him the chance to repent before considering
capital punishment. ‘First, he should be counseled. If he does not take the
advice and repent, the penalty stated in Shari’a should be evoked on him.
According to Shari’a, the punishment for apostasy is death,’ he said. Waheed further argued that Nazim could be
charged under the Religious Unity Act, for disrupting the religious unity of the
country. A state prosecutor who wished to remain anonymous said Nazim could be
prosecuted for legal disobedience.”
The Maldives newspaper Minivan News reports that a Maldives Islamic
group is calling for the death of Mohamed Nazim. Minivan News reports that “The Islamic
Foundation has called for self-declared apostate Mohamed Nazim to be stripped of
his citizenship and sentenced to death if he does not repent and return to
Islam…Today the Islamic Foundation of the Maldives issued a press statement
calling on judges to give Nazim the opportunity to repent ‘and if he does not,
then sentence him to death as Islamic law and Maldivian law agree.’ ”The Islamic Foundation believes that the
person who announces apostasy should be punished according to Islamic laws,’ the
NGO said, warning that Nazim represented ‘a disturbance to the religious views
and the religious bonds that exist with Maldivians.’ ‘Hereby if this man does not do his penance
and come back to the Islamic religion, the Islamic Foundation of the Maldives
calls to take the citizenship away from this man as mentioned in the Maldivian
constitution.’ If case crossed into areas not covered by the laws of the
country, ‘then the judges should rely on Islamic law,’ the NGO stated, as per
article 142 of constitution which says judiciary shall look into Islamic shar’ia
on matters not covered in law, and sentence accordingly.” Malaysian Miadhu news also reported on such
calls for the death of Mohamed Nazim in their story “Islamic Foundation calls on
death sentence for Nazim, if not repented “
According to the constitution of Maldives, “The judges are
independent, and subject only to the constitution and the law. When deciding
matters on which the Constitution or the law is silent, judges must consider
Islamic Shari’ah.”
The speaker at the Maldives event that Mohamed Nazim attended, Zakir
Naik, has a long history of calling for violence against those who choose their
universal human right of freedom of conscience and leave Islam. Religious supremacist Zakir Naik has
repeatedly called for denying human beings their universal human rights of
freedom of conscience, calling those who leave Islam as “traitors.” The London Times has quoted Zakir Naik as
stating that “People who change their religion should face the death
penalty.”
In a widely broadcast video, Zakir Naik has called for the death
penalty for those who leave Islam and promote another religion as
“apostates.” In the broadcast, Zakir
Naik states “if a Muslim becomes a non-Muslim and propagates his/her new
religion, then it is as good as treason.
There is a ‘death penalty’ in Islam for such a person. In many countries, the punishment for treason
is also death. If an army general discloses his army’s secrets to another
country, then there is a ‘death penalty’ or life imprisonment for such a person
according to the laws of most of the countries.
In the broadcast, Zakir Naik also states that the death penalty for
leaving Islam (”apostasy”) should also apply to “non-Muslim countries.” Zakir Naik also challenges other “Islamic
scholars” who believe in such death penalty for “apostates” to extend such
defiance of religious freedom not just to Muslim majority nations, but to the
entire world. Zakir Naik states “If these scholars are really righteous people
then they must welcome their own principle (of death for apostates) in the
non-Muslim countries as well.”
Zakir Naik has also reportedly stated that women must cover
themselves, and reject “revealing Western dress,” or they are “susceptible to
rape.” Zakir Naik is infamously known
for his defense of Osama Bin Laden and stating that “every Muslim should be a
terrorist.”
Zakir Naik will turn
Maldivian against Maldivian
Posted
By Hilath
[From
EighteenMaldives blog]
Sheesh.
Zakir Naik cannot distinguish between Natural Laws and Religion. He cites
mathematics in the same vein as religion: he thinks that only Islam offers the
2+2=4 answer and that all other religions offer the “illogical” 1+1=3 answer!
So,
only Muslims deserve to live? Get a life and engage in some useful profession,
Mr. Naik!
Have
you ever read the Quran through and through? It says that on Judgment Day, all
People of the Book who believed in the Oneness of God will go to Heaven, whether
they are Christian or Jew, as long as their ageeda is not clouded by Shirk-ish
concepts such as the Trinity. I have met many Christians who don’t believe in
the Trinity and just believe in One God. Who are you to say they are going to
Hell when God Himself has said in the Quran that all People of the Book who
believe in the Oneness of God will go to heaven?
If
this is the kind of absolutist crap this so-called “preacher” preaches in
Maldives on Thursday and Friday, I won’t have anything to do with it! Doesn’t
Zakir know that all religions are striving towards the One thing — Unity?
Adhaalath Party and Salaf can go to Hell and be ready to be responsible for any
religious or sectarian violence that may occur in Maldives.
I
guess gullible Maldivians will still go to watch the show and possibly be
swindled of thousands of Rufiya in “charity” to this
millionaire-preacher…
Responses
to “Zakir Naik will turn Maldivian against Maldivian –
VIDEO”
Ibrey:
May 27, 2010 at 3:41 am This is the type of brainwashing orchestrated in the
name of religion in many unfortunate religious societies. I have seen children
preaching religion in some videos when they should be playing like other
children. Unfortunately, many a god loving moderate people of Maldives think
they are doing a good by attending these events, whereas they will come out with
hate for fellow people opposing their views.
I
hope we will use God given brains to learn that truth doesn’t need maniacs and
anything imposed on others. I hope there will be a time when the masses are able
to have equal tolerance for critics of religion. A real pluralistic society! Now
for me that would be very Islamic and when people have trust in themselves and
God (Eeman) they will have no fear of opposing views.
After
all, if God had so willed we would all be angels. Don’t let preachers play God
and fool us!
#10943Check
this video, Mr. Vice President | Hilath Online
May
27, 2010 at 9:27 am
9:14 PM
Sultan Shahin
0 comments:
Post a Comment