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Maldives Supreme Court Hears Challenge To President's Religious Beliefs

By Howard M. Friedman

In the Maldives, the country's Supreme Court is hearing a fascinating challenge to the right of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to stand for re-election. Under the Maldives constitution, only Muslims are entitled to citizenship. (See prior posting.) The conservative Adhaalath Party claims that Gayoom is an "infidel" because he has denied Jesus' second coming, the teaching that the Quran will ascend to heaven on judgment day and the doctrine of blood money. He also disagrees with scholars on which offenses can be pardoned and he says that veiling for women is not compulsory. His opponents also claim he has attempted to spread Christianity in the Maldives. The Election Commission ruled in Gayoom's favor, saying that he had been issued a Maldivian identity card which is only issued to Muslims, and that the challengers had not carried their burden of proving otherwise.

Minivan News reports that arguments in an appeal of the Election Commission decision began in the Supreme Court on Thursday and continue today. Gayoom's lawyers argue that the texts relied upon by the Adhaalath Party are open to interpretation. Underlying the dispute are Gayoom's attempts to creack down on Islamic extremism since a bombing in September 2007 aimed at the country's tourism industry.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on September 28, 2008 (boomark / email).