President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that the people of Maldives will not accept insults made against Islam and the Prophets.
President made this remark speaking at the ceremony held to officially inaugurate the second phase of the Hulhumale' land reclamation project.
He said that first and foremost he condemns those people who insult Islam and incite hatred. “Therefore, we have informed the French government. At the same time, we have told them that it is not easy for us to see the death of anyone. We have stated that both are wrong. And I have told them not to incite people to this wrong by doing a wrong,” he said.
President Yameen said that Muslims cannot accept insults made against the religion and the prophets in the guise of freedom of expression.
He said that Muslims will never insult any prophet and he questioned the motive for the insults made against the Prophet of Islam.
In a press release by the President issued yesterday, the President condemned the publication of caricatures in the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, insulting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
He said that it is an attempt to incite religious hatred by offending the many millions of Muslims worldwide, and that it will only advance the message of radicals and terrorists.
In the statement issued by the President’s Office Thursday morning, the President stated that freedom of expression is not a license to creating hatred, and promoting anti-Islamic sentiments and Islamophobia.
He said that insulting the religious beliefs of one-third of humanity should not be tolerated in any society or by any Government.
“Instead such criminal activities should be stopped and actions should be taken in a speedy manner to prevent such activities.”
President Yameen stressed the importance of promoting a culture of respect and tolerance as a means of countering Islamophobia and radicalism. Calling upon Muslim leaders around the world to unite in protecting Islam and promoting its true values of peace and tolerance, the Maldivian President said:
“The Maldives has been advocating the need for cultivating a culture of respect, where freedom of speech is protected in a way that does not promote hatred through ridicule and insults.”
Maldivians will not accept the insults made against Islam- President
