12th century copper plate grants found in the Maldives reveal the blood-soaked, painful process of conversion of the Maldives to Islam. The Sultans of the day went through the trouble of bringing in Buddhist monks and beheading them in the capital.
The modern day Maldives takes a much simpler route. The 2008 Constitution unilaterally declares all Maldivians to be Sunni Muslim without the courtesy of so much as an opinion poll.
Maldivians in general are quite proud of the ‘100% Muslim’ statistic that is frequently bandied about. But it raises a few fundamental questions that are nevertheless extremely taboo in the Maldivian society.
At what point of Maldivian history has there ever been a public census on religion?
Does the Maldivian state even have the right to unilaterally declare a citizen’s beliefs? Which other Islamic State or Empire in Islam’s 1400 year old history has taken this liberty – and under whose authority? [Read more]
[My piece published on Minivan News, 21 Dec 2011]
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sun, Sand and Intolerance
“We are entering the fourth year of democracy but unfortunately, many basic freedoms and rights have yet to be achieved for all Maldivians. It is unacceptable in this day and age that non-Muslim Maldivians are discriminated against in their own country,” he said. “This is their country as much as ours.”... [Read More]
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Sunday, December 11, 2011
A cowardly attack
Yesterday, a bunch of 5 or so bearded thugs were sent to the Artificial Beach in Male' to attack a gathering of silent protesters who were seated in protest against the lack of Religious freedom in the Maldives.
And they did this.
And that.
Here's how it happened:
A group of non-anonymous, vocally liberal, secular-minded Maldivians reached out to each other on Facebook. (And no. I promise I was not involved this time)
They had the same concerns as any other thinking, humane and considerate human being in the world would have about the lack of religious freedom and the oppression of minorities in the Maldives. In particular, they took the example of Ismail Mohamed Didi, the young non-Muslim air traffic controller who was driven to suicide in July 2010 after facing immense social pressure from the Maldivian society.
Knowing full well the dangers of standing up for something in a society as pig-headed as the Maldives, they nevertheless went ahead and decided to stage a silent protest on the Human Rights day, demanding Freedom of Religion.
One of them, Dhona, made a short video to publicize the event, which of course caught the attention of intolerant nitwits, too many of whom have an internet connection.
It also caught the eye of 2 of our honourable MPs, who I shall not yet name. Let's just say they both belong to this certain political party that is run by a certain former autocratic ruler. (Yes, I can be very vague.)
Anyways. These 2 honorable MPs summoned Dhona via a mutual contact to a 'meeting' on Thursday to discuss what this planned protest was about. By the time she went, however, there was only one of them there.
Dhona told the MP exactly what had been planned - a group of Maldivians were going to gather at the Artificial beach, and sit in silent protest for the cause of freedom. The MP, for reasons not entirely clear to me, tried to dissuade her from "organizing" the event, going so far as to quote scripture. It didn't work.
On her way back, however, the mutual contact who had been present throughout the conversation told Dhona to avoid going to the assembly, as things could get ugly. He also told her, about 2 days in advance, that they would target Hilath.
Oh yeah. When I said the bearded thugs were sent, I did mean they were sent. By who, I do not know.
Anyway, the group wasnt' intimidated by the threat and went ahead with the plans. They assembled outside a fast food restaurant near the beach, as the main stage had been booked by a certain political party run by a former dictator.
Hilath called me at a few minutes past 4 to say there was a group meeting up and if I was joining. I would have, but I was busy working, so I didn't.
Less than 25 minutes later, I'm informed that he's seriously hurt. The hired pseudo-religious thugs arrived out of the blue. Without any provocation or notice, they went straight to attack Hilath, kicking him on the chest and aiming for the head with stones.
Dhona had the presence of mind to whip out her phone camera and start taking pictures, even as she was being threatened.
Hilath bled a lot, as seen in the pictures. In the struggle that ensued, some others suffered minor injuries.
The Police arrived, but by then the thugs had apparently left, but not before issuing more threats. One guy in particular, didn't like the fact that he was being photographed. In fact, he didn't like it to the extent that he has threatened to kill anyone who leaked his photograph.
So naturally, here's his photograph.
Even after the Police arrived, I'm told there was some confrontation. One man was openly threatening the girl with violence, saying the Police couldn't stop him. This was, of course, said within the policeman's earshot and he didn't do a thing. In the Maldives, religion gives everyone a license to threaten / hurt / kill.
Hilath was taken away on a friend's motor bike to the hospital where received stitches on his head.
Since the Police at the scene seemed to think it was too beautiful a day to engage in mundane tasks like gathering witnesses or taking statements, three of the attendees decided to go to the Police HQ itself to have the case reported.
They showed the cops pictures of the attack in progress, as well as the attackers. But the Police refused to take a statement from anyone except Hilath.
This is strange behaviour on their part because the rest of them were attacked and threatened as well, even in Police presence.
Even more startlingly, they refused to accept the photographs as evidence until they'd spoken to a 'superior officer'.
I presume the conversation went something like this:
"Sir! We have three key eye-witnesses from the public assault crime scene with multiple photographs of the crime in progress. Do you think we should take a look at it.. you know.. for evidence perhaps?"
"Yes, doofus bin Einstein."
"Sir! Y'ssir!"
Anyways, they called later in the night asking for the photographs, which, I'd like my fundie friends who're reading this to know have also been distributed to every media outlet and agency the FB group could think of.
Now, let's check the fundie social media checklist at this stage.
~Peace!
P.S. Tell mom I love her.
And they did this.
And that.
Here's how it happened:
A group of non-anonymous, vocally liberal, secular-minded Maldivians reached out to each other on Facebook. (And no. I promise I was not involved this time)
They had the same concerns as any other thinking, humane and considerate human being in the world would have about the lack of religious freedom and the oppression of minorities in the Maldives. In particular, they took the example of Ismail Mohamed Didi, the young non-Muslim air traffic controller who was driven to suicide in July 2010 after facing immense social pressure from the Maldivian society.
Knowing full well the dangers of standing up for something in a society as pig-headed as the Maldives, they nevertheless went ahead and decided to stage a silent protest on the Human Rights day, demanding Freedom of Religion.
One of them, Dhona, made a short video to publicize the event, which of course caught the attention of intolerant nitwits, too many of whom have an internet connection.
It also caught the eye of 2 of our honourable MPs, who I shall not yet name. Let's just say they both belong to this certain political party that is run by a certain former autocratic ruler. (Yes, I can be very vague.)
Anyways. These 2 honorable MPs summoned Dhona via a mutual contact to a 'meeting' on Thursday to discuss what this planned protest was about. By the time she went, however, there was only one of them there.
Dhona told the MP exactly what had been planned - a group of Maldivians were going to gather at the Artificial beach, and sit in silent protest for the cause of freedom. The MP, for reasons not entirely clear to me, tried to dissuade her from "organizing" the event, going so far as to quote scripture. It didn't work.
On her way back, however, the mutual contact who had been present throughout the conversation told Dhona to avoid going to the assembly, as things could get ugly. He also told her, about 2 days in advance, that they would target Hilath.
Oh yeah. When I said the bearded thugs were sent, I did mean they were sent. By who, I do not know.
Anyway, the group wasnt' intimidated by the threat and went ahead with the plans. They assembled outside a fast food restaurant near the beach, as the main stage had been booked by a certain political party run by a former dictator.
Hilath called me at a few minutes past 4 to say there was a group meeting up and if I was joining. I would have, but I was busy working, so I didn't.
Less than 25 minutes later, I'm informed that he's seriously hurt. The hired pseudo-religious thugs arrived out of the blue. Without any provocation or notice, they went straight to attack Hilath, kicking him on the chest and aiming for the head with stones.
The fight in progress.
Hilath bled a lot, as seen in the pictures. In the struggle that ensued, some others suffered minor injuries.
The Police arrived, but by then the thugs had apparently left, but not before issuing more threats. One guy in particular, didn't like the fact that he was being photographed. In fact, he didn't like it to the extent that he has threatened to kill anyone who leaked his photograph.
So naturally, here's his photograph.
It's the least I could do to honour the wishes of a grown up man who's threatens a girl with harm
Even after the Police arrived, I'm told there was some confrontation. One man was openly threatening the girl with violence, saying the Police couldn't stop him. This was, of course, said within the policeman's earshot and he didn't do a thing. In the Maldives, religion gives everyone a license to threaten / hurt / kill.
Hilath was taken away on a friend's motor bike to the hospital where received stitches on his head.
Since the Police at the scene seemed to think it was too beautiful a day to engage in mundane tasks like gathering witnesses or taking statements, three of the attendees decided to go to the Police HQ itself to have the case reported.
They showed the cops pictures of the attack in progress, as well as the attackers. But the Police refused to take a statement from anyone except Hilath.
This is strange behaviour on their part because the rest of them were attacked and threatened as well, even in Police presence.
Even more startlingly, they refused to accept the photographs as evidence until they'd spoken to a 'superior officer'.
I presume the conversation went something like this:
"Sir! We have three key eye-witnesses from the public assault crime scene with multiple photographs of the crime in progress. Do you think we should take a look at it.. you know.. for evidence perhaps?"
"Yes, doofus bin Einstein."
"Sir! Y'ssir!"
Anyways, they called later in the night asking for the photographs, which, I'd like my fundie friends who're reading this to know have also been distributed to every media outlet and agency the FB group could think of.
Now, let's check the fundie social media checklist at this stage.
a) Passive aggressive name calling, with the tired old 'ladheenee' phrase. Check.
b) Faux outrage and chest thumping pseudo-nationalism and bravado. Check.
c) Too much information. Threats. Check.
So. It appears the cowardly attack on the silent, non-violent protesters today was entirely premeditated and planned.
It is just ironic when the so called practitioners of the 'religion of peace' show up in public to assault civilians, use swear words and threaten a girl.
I'm also a bit disturbed at the possible implication of a certain 2 MPs in this case, because the advance warning proves beyond all doubt that someone in their immediate circle knew it was coming.
Why? I don't know.
I have been told in no uncertain terms that I WILL come to harm, and stand a real risk of getting attacked / stabbed / hurt / mugged in public for writing this post and publishing these photographs.
I have been told in no uncertain terms that I WILL come to harm, and stand a real risk of getting attacked / stabbed / hurt / mugged in public for writing this post and publishing these photographs.
I admit that made me consider this for a while. Say, about 20 seconds. But when you have cowardly thugs - no matter how well protected by politicians - coming up and harming unarmed civilians and my friends, and threatening an innocent girl with 'dire consequences', I'm afraid I cannot let it simply pass.
That would be too cowardly a thing for me. Even if I had to get stabbed for it. Which I absolutely expect to happen.
Here's one last picture from Facebook, of the alleged thugs.
~Peace!
P.S. Tell mom I love her.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
warm up
For all my alleged computer-savvy, I prefer sitting in a cafe' with a pen and notebook when I'm writing.
At least thrice in the last month, I have angrily scribbled long passages, jotting down my frustrations and wanting to know answers. But each time, my pen just falls silent from the sheer depressing nature of my words.
Seeing the unabashed bigotry, censorship and raging intolerance in my country has always been disheartening, but recently I've begun feeling the same sense of hopelessness that many people had warned me of before.
I've actually begun avoiding the local news to avoid the constant stream of boiling bullshit. I've tried writing about these things.. but it's just too disappointing. I'm beginning to think that if the Maldives wants to burn, let it burn. I'll just fiddle.
And yet, the burnt and broken SAARC monuments in Addu, the crass response to a well-intentioned speech by the UN Human Rights Chief, and the million-idiots march scheduled for later this month... all beget the question: how low can we stoop as a nation?
I often ask this question. But now I realize I don't really want to hear the answer.
_
At least thrice in the last month, I have angrily scribbled long passages, jotting down my frustrations and wanting to know answers. But each time, my pen just falls silent from the sheer depressing nature of my words.
Seeing the unabashed bigotry, censorship and raging intolerance in my country has always been disheartening, but recently I've begun feeling the same sense of hopelessness that many people had warned me of before.
I've actually begun avoiding the local news to avoid the constant stream of boiling bullshit. I've tried writing about these things.. but it's just too disappointing. I'm beginning to think that if the Maldives wants to burn, let it burn. I'll just fiddle.
And yet, the burnt and broken SAARC monuments in Addu, the crass response to a well-intentioned speech by the UN Human Rights Chief, and the million-idiots march scheduled for later this month... all beget the question: how low can we stoop as a nation?
I often ask this question. But now I realize I don't really want to hear the answer.
_
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