Solih asks Maldivians to rise against extremism

President’s comments come after Nasheed urged him to ‘course-correct’

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on July 26 called upon citizens to rise against religious extremism, in order to safeguard the country’s independence and sovereignty. In a special address to mark the Indian Ocean island nation’s 57th Independence Day, Mr. Solih said some “erroneously” believe in and “propagandise bloodshed” in the name of Islam. “Everyone of us who wish to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives must readily rise against this dangerous movement,” he said, adding, “those countries, particularly a number of Islamic countries embattled by war and unrest have been swept by this very extremist ideology.” The President’s reference to threats of religious extremism comes weeks after Parliamentary Speaker and former President to “course-correct before it is too late”, amid a growing rift between the two leaders from the country’s ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).