Not necessary to build non-Muslim worship places in Maldives – Shaheem

Friday, November 20th, 2009

shah3000mMinister of State for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that it is not necessary to give permission to build non-Muslim worship places in Maldives.

Answering a question put forward by Miadhu Daily, State Minister Shaheem said that worship places of different religions are established in some countries because there is a religious diversity in those countries and that those worship places are not built to cater the foreigners who visit that country.

Shaheem said that when Prophet Mohamed went to Medina, he gave permission for Jews living in Medina to build synagogues for worshiping but that was because Jews were residents of Medina who had been living their for several years.

He said that this does not apply to Maldives as Maldives is a 100 percent Muslim country and since there are no resident of Maldives worship a religion besides Islam. He added that Maldivian constitution does not permit Maldivians to practice a religion other than Islam and so there was no reason for non- Muslim worship places to be built in Maldives for foreigners.

Shaheem said that in the People’s Majlis or anywhere in the country, it is not acceptable for people who are not religions scholars to preach Islam and if it happens, a lot of problems would come out of it.

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