Islanders protest against teacher

Mujey

Haama News

31-08-06

Islanders have protested against a teacher in Raa Atoll Alifushi claiming that the teacher was trying to convert the people to Christianity.

“Yesterday [August 29] a group of people gathered near the Island Office and expressed their concerns. They were shouting that a school teacher was disrespecting Islam and trying to convert people to Christianity. The gatherers were claiming that the teacher had suggested students that there was no need for fasting – an obligatory ritual for Muslims during Ramadan, and believing in a god that is veiled” said Hassan Afeef, island Chief of Alifushi.

According to Afeef he had spoken to the management of the school about the concerns of the people and has been told that it (the management) was aware of the activities of the teacher. Afeef also said that the teacher was suspended on August 29.

Haama attempted unsuccessfully to reach officials of the school to know about the activities of ‘Amandraj’ from India who is employed at the island school.

“The teacher has been trying to convert people to Christianity over the past three years. The management of the school knows this. I condemn the school for lack of action” said Afeef.

The most sensitive issue in the country is ‘converting people to Christianity’. There have been many incidents in the past few years related to ‘converting people to Christianity’. A few who converted to Christianity were later brought into the fold of Islam. Maldives claim that it is the only 100% Muslim country in the region.

According to the roadmap of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Maldives will soon sign International Human Rights Conventions, which could be a strep towards religious freedom in the country.