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MDP welcomes chance offered by caricatures of Prophet
Moonisa Easa, Political Analyst
Moonisa Easa, Political Analyst
Male’, Maldives, 6th February 2006 (www.olhuala.com) – The Maldivian Democratic Party is planning a new ‘protest’ assembly after the failed one of 24th January and this time party insiders believe they have a foolproof scheme to attract the large numbers of people who so conspicuously stayed away the first time. The party has announced that they will call the gathering to ‘protest the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).’
It is an implicit admission that the MDP now lacks the popular support that would generate the size of crowd required for their stated purpose of overthrowing the government. Religious groups have also slammed the move as they see it as the manipulation of an issue that has caused shockwaves in the global Islamic community, to gain any little political capital it can for the MDP.
The MDP had earlier been vilified in the Maldives because of its reluctance to address the issue of the caricatures and it is believed that the party’s leaders succumbed to the pressure on Saturday morning only after threats by some members to walk out on the party. The proposed date of the new demonstration is Friday, February 10th.
The document carried on the party website is dated 2nd February, but only appeared at noon today (4th February); like many communications through its media channels, this latest declaration was also post-dated. In fact, party leaders held an emergency session on Saturday in which the decision was made. Although the statement was attributed to the party’s Islamic affairs council, only one member of that council was present.
Consultations with the party’s foreign element including David Hardingham and Paul Roberts have led to this latest decision to “kill two birds with one stone,” according to the MDP source.
“Hardingham and Annie (Chairman Mohamed Nasheed) only gave way when it was put to them that a public condemnation would present another chance to call a demonstration. The government will have a difficult task in prohibiting a ‘religious event.’ Also, more people will feel compelled to turn up because it is a ‘religious event,’” the source elaborated.
Maldivians have expressed outrage at the conduct of the European press as have many Muslims around the world. The government and all the other political parties in the Maldives have issued formal condemnations through media releases.
While Muslims in many countries have held demonstrations at the doorstep of European embassies and missions, Maldivians feel that their views have already been expressed in the aforementioned declarations and see no further need to demonstrate on the streets, most particularly because Denmark and other European states do not have permanent missions in this country.
“This is a blatant attempt by the MDP to take advantage of this despicable act by the Danish press”, said Ahamed Sameer, a devout Muslim.
“The MDP are happy that someone has mocked our Prophet (s.a.w.). They are thankful for the opportunity they feel this has presented them with.”
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It is an implicit admission that the MDP now lacks the popular support that would generate the size of crowd required for their stated purpose of overthrowing the government. Religious groups have also slammed the move as they see it as the manipulation of an issue that has caused shockwaves in the global Islamic community, to gain any little political capital it can for the MDP.
The MDP had earlier been vilified in the Maldives because of its reluctance to address the issue of the caricatures and it is believed that the party’s leaders succumbed to the pressure on Saturday morning only after threats by some members to walk out on the party. The proposed date of the new demonstration is Friday, February 10th.
The document carried on the party website is dated 2nd February, but only appeared at noon today (4th February); like many communications through its media channels, this latest declaration was also post-dated. In fact, party leaders held an emergency session on Saturday in which the decision was made. Although the statement was attributed to the party’s Islamic affairs council, only one member of that council was present.
Consultations with the party’s foreign element including David Hardingham and Paul Roberts have led to this latest decision to “kill two birds with one stone,” according to the MDP source.
“Hardingham and Annie (Chairman Mohamed Nasheed) only gave way when it was put to them that a public condemnation would present another chance to call a demonstration. The government will have a difficult task in prohibiting a ‘religious event.’ Also, more people will feel compelled to turn up because it is a ‘religious event,’” the source elaborated.
Maldivians have expressed outrage at the conduct of the European press as have many Muslims around the world. The government and all the other political parties in the Maldives have issued formal condemnations through media releases.
While Muslims in many countries have held demonstrations at the doorstep of European embassies and missions, Maldivians feel that their views have already been expressed in the aforementioned declarations and see no further need to demonstrate on the streets, most particularly because Denmark and other European states do not have permanent missions in this country.
“This is a blatant attempt by the MDP to take advantage of this despicable act by the Danish press”, said Ahamed Sameer, a devout Muslim.
“The MDP are happy that someone has mocked our Prophet (s.a.w.). They are thankful for the opportunity they feel this has presented them with.”
Click to read full story