ibramightbechallengedsoon
Ibra humiliated yet again
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Ismail Rifau, Political Correspondent
Male’, Maldives, 4th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The current leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) has publicly humiliated himself again in trying to prove that he had more popular support than President Gayoom.
Ibra made an appearance at the Mohamed Thakurufaanul A’zam (Islamic Centre) yesterday for Jum’a prayers (Friday prayers). It was announced on MDP owned Minivan that “the party leader would be meeting with the public after the prayers, everyone who wishes to shake his hand should join the queue.”
Sources close to olhuala.com informed us that Ibra himself said, “today we will see who has more support. I am sure that more people will queue around me.”
“This was an attempt to challenge Maumoon [President Gayoom]” said Ahmed Aleem, who was at the scene. “The president meets with his people after prayers on Friday. Most attendees form a queue to shake his hand.”
Minivan claims that the hundreds of people who shake the President’s hand consist of ‘government employees, cronies and people who join in under duress.’ Observers yesterday would have found very difficult to find any evidence that this was the case.
Ibra whose party has suffered numerous setbacks over the past month was yet again humiliated as hundreds of residents crowded around the popular Gayoom, while Ibra was left on the side with his ex-army minders. Ibra had prayed with the Jamaa’ath just past the landing on the first floor stairs. Ibra was surrounded by four minders seated in front and behind and to his left and right.
Many present for prayers were disgusted at this attempt to bring politics into the sanctified place of worship. “No other politician or political party has brought politics into the mosque before, it is a religious tradition to shake the hand our leaders and fellow citizens after prayers” says Sheik Usman Abdulla.
Tellingly, neither the DRP nor the President has ever claimed that the ever-increasing numbers greeting him at the mosque is something to judge his popularity by.
Click to read full story