The Maldives, an island republic in the Indian Ocean where citizens are required by law to be Muslim, has been the scene of a lot of human rights news involving atheism. The first incident was in May, when a 37-year old Maldivian named Mohamed Nazim renounced Islam during a lecture, was attacked by members of the audience, then led off under arrest by police. A few days later it was reported that he'd had a change of heart while in police custody and publicly apologized for his atheistic apostasy. Only two weeks ago a Maldivian atheist was in the news again; this time for committing suicide. The victim, a 25-year old air traffic controller named Ismail Mohamed Didi, hung himself after knowledge of his atheism became widespread and he failed to find asylum in another country.
Now news has arrived of a 34-year old freelance Maldivian journalist arrested after an alleged suicide attempt through the use of drugs. One of the charges being levied against him is atheism. This reporter has been unable to confirm whether Ismail Khilath Rasheed actually is an atheist or not but many of his articles have been critical of the state religion and the accusations of atheism aren't new. In March, death threats made against him led the Maldives Journalists Association to issue a press release to condemn them and "to take necessary actions against people who issue such threats against journalists".In response, State Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said such threats from "radicals" were "very bad and have to stop". A spokesman from the president's office added that the government was monitoring the situation.
Rasheed explains his current predicament in a letter to the human rights group, Amnesty International (published in Minivan News):
The Director
Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Dear Sir/Madam:
On 24 June 2010 I was arrested by Raa Atoll Ungoofaaru Police Station where I was charged with “attempted suicide by overdozing on less than a gram of hash oil, atheism and homosexuality.”
However, quite strangely, only a vague reference to “drug abuse” appeared on the Court Order for my arrest.
While the officers of the Maldives Police Service at Male’ Custodial were very kind to me – understandably, due to my parents refusing to allow my transfer to house arrest due to the gravity of the charges – I feel vulnerable against corrupt elements, the remnants of former President Gayoom’s dictatorship, rampant in the Maldives Judiciary and other law enforcement agencies.
I also feel defenceless against extremists of all sorts and the extreme ideas prevailing in Maldives society, especially in relation to previous contributions to Minivan News.
Hence, I would greatly appreciate if you can help me find temporary asylum in a friendly democratic country until I feel it is safe for me to return to Maldives and continue my investigative work as a freelance journalist and independent blogger promoting human rights.
Thanking you in advance for your kind cooperation.
Yours sincerely,
Ismail Khilath Rasheed
CC: Human Rights Commission of Maldives
U.N.C.H.R.
U.N.C.H.R.
Photo Credit:
1) Ismail Khilath Rasheed (source: Minivan News)
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Comments
An Atheist complaining on a faith other than Christianity?
How refreshing!
A fundie Christian who isn't incredulous?
(ahem) Well, um, could someone tell me when one turns up?
Aren't you repeating this story?
@Incredulous: Hugh is an equal-opportunity protester. As you can tell by my Examiner title, he's a thorn in my side. But he's not a hypocrite, and has never lied to me.
Terry, you are absolutely correct. Hugh does not discriminate against anyone in particular. Who(m) ever is being stupid that day gets his attention. Thus the reason I like him and his writing. Keep up the good and fair work, Hugh!
These guys are trying to get attention of the international community spreading all sorts of lies.. all what is true is he is a drug addict.
The truth of the matter is the people of Ungoofaru island were searching for him middle of one night and was found lying on the beach semi-unconcious after drug-overdose in an uninhabited island all alone. He was charged for illigal drug use under Law. Now he blames others for his owna ctions? how illogical and silly. And now trying to get attention of Christians because he is a atheist? How silly as well!!! I think a good christian would not sympathise with an atheist.
And one should understand the nature of this guy knowing that he himself says in the letter that his own parents refusing to allow his transfer to house arrest due to the gravity of the charges. This is again an indication of his bad nature. I am sure no parent will reject their children unless they are so bad and dangerous!!!
hillath rasheed is a crazy drug addicted man! Law & the regulations should be exercised for him & others who are using drugs & also who are against the constitution of the country...
we have no space in our heart for such humans!
its simple to get asylum, just say few words against religion or government.. and get labeled yourself as a reformist or anti islamic! thre.. you go! you will get a free asylum!
He is not an atheist. but his criticsm to islamic scholars have been because they do not accept him to be a homosexual. i have also had physical relations with men, but i always believed what was in islam banning homsexualism was the best thing, and i wished i can get rid of my cravings. Alhamdulillah (all praises to God) that I have now got rid of it by stopping to watch pornography and stopping to communicate other people who have such tendencies. I want to get married to a woman and get pleasure in the way God has allowed us.
The Maldives aren't getting as much bad publicity out of this as they should.
Just another example of Islam's well known tolerance of people who are not Muslim, as well as people are gay.
MR Hugh Kramer (HOOKER) why did you lie????>????? hillath rasheed is a crazy drug addicted man as well as gay! And he found from inhebited island while he got Drug Overdose then only then only he was arrested by police.
Riban: Will you or any person from Maldives focus for a moment on why the charges against this man reportedly included a charge of "atheism". If he was mainly just guilty a drug charge, then why cloud and blur the situation with adding a charge of atheism? Why should it be a crime in any country to have a different thought/opinion than others in the society? If I lived in a society where everyone prefers the color red, but I prefer blue, would you kill me? I am not burning down red houses. I just like the color blue. My opinion is different. So what? Why are religions so insecure in their beliefs that they must threaten harm (death, jail, hell, etc) on those who just have a simple difference of opinion?
There is a HUGE difference between laws that punish ACTIONS (theft, murder, rape, etc) versus laws that punish THOUGHTS (I don't believe the same religion as you, or I think that the color blue is nicer than green, etc). Laws against atheism are silly. Such laws seek to punish people for thinking. There is no place for such laws in our modern world.
"From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step." - Denis Diderot
Peter Mahoney: It is not a crime to to have different thought/opinion than others in the society!!! "If I lived in a society where everyone prefers the color red, but I prefer blue, would you kill me?" No, i would not...its Ok you to just like the color blue. But in Hilath's case...Hilath is burning down red houses. Hilath is insulting the Islam, Muslims, Quran and prophet...If you believe in something, then you hold on to it...no need to insult others...
Michel: Are you from Maldives? You respond that "Hilath is burning down red houses." That would be an ACTION, and a crime. But hating red houses and 'insulting' red houses (or insulting Islam, Muslims, Quran, prophet, Christians, atheists, politicians, your neighbor's new car, or whatever) are exchanges of THOUGHTS, which deserve no legal punishment. If I think you are delusional for liking red houses (or for liking the Koran, Bible, Torah, whatever) then let me have my opinion and also let me speak it out loud. You can decide to ignore me, or argue with me, or agree, but you should not put me in jail for expression an OPINION! What kind of archaic place is Maldives to do this? Why are you so insecure that you can not hear someone who has a different opinion?
And what to tell about Maldives? I believe that with rising ocean the monkey-mentality-state will be drown forever. And all Muslim states should follow.
Michel, blasphemy, as they say, is a victimless crime. I have no problem with religion or people believing in whatever they wish, as long as it's not forced on others. But judging by the comments left by some here (assuming they are all different people as they all sound alike) the Maldives sounds like a place still living in the Dark Ages due to religious oppression of thought.
Does that offend you? I don't care. Because thankfully I live in a place that has freedom of speech. And those that think atheism and homosexuality are crimes are tyrants.
Hilath is a one crazy gay guy who was found drug over dozed on the beach in an uninhabited Island, guy is trying to get sympathy from people so that he can hide the real facts so that people abroad will get a different idea about Islam and Maldives.
The is no law to charge for becoming atheist, so legally no one can charge hilath is charged for drug abuse just like any other nation in this part of world. Singapore, Malaysia all other countries in Asia laws are pretty strict on drug abuse to eliminate the social manace and crime against other citizens.
Each society has its own norms, beliefs, values, etc. So this guy to insult our values and beliefs is a big problem. After all. I would like to remind all of you that this lonely guy called Hilath was taken to police because of a crime he committed: illegal drug abuse. get real guys. Although he claims he was charged being atheist and homosexual, according to the news articles after his arrest, it is clear he was charged with drug use. For your kind reference this is the link to the news article on minivan news website: "Maldivian journalist and blogger found unconscious on Raa atoll". I can only mention the topic of the article as this site doe snot allow to post links or URLs here.
This guy called Hilath is infact a 'social outcast'. That's what he is.
Jeez, it is physically impossible to 'overdose' on cannabis, in the correct, clinical sense of the word. And as for his personal beliefs and sexuality, it is never anyone else's business, ever. What a dreadful country. I'll never set foot in it.
There are no gods. There is no life after death. The life you have here is all there is. That's it. The stuff about gods, angels and the like is utter nonsense and doesn't even stand up to logical argument let alone evidence. I can freely says these things here in the UK and debate them with believers as much as I want and remain friends with them. What's wrong with the rest of the world that you cannot allow those with differing opinions to coexist? Are you so afraid that you are wrong? It's nothing more than barbarism and you should be utterly ashamed of yourselves.
bill i agree with u but lets just leave the life after death god angels to the believers who believe it. nobody can be so sure of the unseen things so let it be. we should all be more loving kind and supportive to each other irrespective of our differences in views opinions so forth,if one can make a difference other can too.say no to greed too much pride and anger.share the wealth health food technology love with everyone and it will all be okay. one bloke grow up totally like a barbarian without internet and love support and caring from an educated parents and one day he saw on the road a bloke from a educated parents who got love support and caring and also internet facility. the uneducated bloke got quickly angry with the educated bloke after a small argument so he killed the educated bloke without any remorse because he just cant understand the value of a real loving caring passionate human being also because the uneducated bloke was not so fortunate enough to had it experienced to himself so he could have understood.now who's to blame. seriously i am confused now hahhahahahah. this life is not so complicated. we make it complicated ourselves....global government center on facebook
"I feel vulnerable against corrupt elements, the remnants of former President Gayoom’s dictatorship, rampant in the Maldives Judiciary and other law enforcement agencies." Is a bit ironic since the current government has now been in power for over 1 year and yet , all these arrests, human rights violations and suicide is happening in the new regime... My point is that the current nor the old government cant do much about this as the strong religious beliefs and prehistoric values are shared by majority of the people who live there.
when the acceptance of the society is based up on a persons belief or way people like hilath are regarded as taboo and shameful. As well as the upbringing of the person is put at hand to be brought shame up on. In such a naive and ignorant society its not uncommon for a family to discard its members. so dont go on saying that no parent would reject their children under other circumstances. Ignorance has spread out through the maldives like a virus
Bill, what's Jeez ? I presume your calling Jesus ? I thought you don't believe in God or are you hypocrite ? Hilath was found over dozed on the beach I'm not concerned whether cannabis or over dosed after consuming anything else. Youre claiming the society ur living in is so tolerant then it's good for you contin
ue to live a great life and please stop pointing finger on the way other societies have chosen to live their life.
Hmmm. My last comment was July 28, 2:55 AM. But it appears Muslim fundies are not above sockpuppetry for the mere sake of repeating the same bigotry they posted previously. Of course those of us who have experience with conversing (if you could call it that) with fundies (of any stripe) will find that dishonesty on their part is not surprising in the least.
And they accuse others of hiding the "real facts".
We need to cutoff all diplomatic relations with this stupid country.
so totally trajic. It is just awful.
Nick, DeSwiss just mind your own business. This is our country not yours.
Sorry Nick. not you. I meant to say Bill.
Pislam is so backwards
Wish there was a way to help these people, get um out or something.
ethiests suck!
nick i support u... and hillath is a stupid mad guy...
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