On May 29, a 37-year old Maldivian citizen named Mohamed Nazim stood up during the Q & A period of a religious lecture given by Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik, and announced that he did not believe in any religion. The audience of 11,000 Muslims reacted violently with many calling for his death and some physically attacking him. The police intervened though and Nazeem was led away to the second block of nearby police building Iskandharu Koshi. There a crowd gathered outside and demanded the police give him to them for beheading. Instead he was whisked away to an undisclosed location, still under arrest. His apostasy was both a state and religious crime. Under the Maldives Constitution, no one can be a citizen unless he is also a Muslim and many Muslims, including the lecturer Dr. Zakir Naik, believe apostasy from Islam merits the death penalty.A more complete account of the incident can be found here.
Now there's more news to report.
Mohamed Nazeem has been receiving "Islamic counseling" while in police custody and has, according to the Maldives news source Haveeru Online, recanted his atheism and returned to Islam. At a June 1 press conference sponsored by the Maldives Ministry for Islamic Affairs, Nazeem recited the Shahada (the Islamic testimony of faith: lâ ilâha illallâh, Mu?ammadur rasûlullâh "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His prophet") in front of journalists and made a public apology for his sins.
From Haveeru Online:
“... And as that action was very much related to the feelings of all Maldivians, I believe that it was an agony for the Maldivian people. I deeply apologise for that to all the Maldivians. Along with that, I would like to say that the major misconceptions I had regarding Islam have been clarified. Therefore, I am now a Muslim. I want Maldivians to accept me as a Maldivian and as a child of this community,” he said.
Deputy Minister for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Farooq said that Nazim reverted to Islam “on freewill.”
“He was in police custody. [But] the only thing we did was, we sent two scholars and counselled him. We tried clarifying the misconceptions he had about Islam…[After] two days of counseling, he said that the misconceptions he had have been clarified and that he wanted to become a Muslim,” he said.
The announcement was made in the media on Nazim’s request, Farooq added.
Nazeem remains in police custody at this time. Officials say that a police decision (about his status and any charges) will be revealed later.
Photo Credit: Nazim announces his reversion to Islam to an audience of journalists. Image captured from TVM broadcast (source: Haveeru Online).
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Comments
Tough choice - reaffirm belief or lose head. I disbelieve, but I don't know if I want to die to prove that point.
If it was me I'd say anything to get out of those troublesome beheadings.
That's a tragedy--and also a travesty. And it's all too common in some parts of the world.
horrible, horrible, horrible, thank God we don't live in those countries.
powerful story!
Appalling!! And a lesson to all of us about how people can behave in the name of religion. As a matter of policy, I like to note these issues, because I don't travel and spend my time or my money in countries where their beliefs are so abhorrent. I know I'll miss places that way, but there are plenty of other places to go.
It's hard to imagine a group of theists willing to kill you if you don't believe what they do.
Hmmmm. While in custody for renouncing Islam he recants his renouncement? Hmmmmmmm.
Sad. It reminds me of when my family was not permitted to participate in public benefits in Cuba because we believed in God. To get the benefits one needed to join the Communist Party (the only political game in town) which entailed not being Catholic. Thank goodness we did not lose our heads over it.
"It's hard to imagine a group of theists willing to kill you if you don't believe what they do."
Oh yeah! That surely has never happened before in ANY religion......
Anything said or agreed to under duress has no value and is not legally binding. I hope this fellow can eventually find sanctuary in a free country.
>>>"That's a tragedy--and also a travesty. And it's all too common in some parts of the world."
And it's what Creationists are aiming for. NO separation of church and state.
i was their at the speech zakir naik.... did say death was penalty for apostasy in Islam but it was if he conspired against islam in his country after he announced another religion... death penalty would not be given for him only by announcing that he did not believe in Islam.... and even that would not happen in maldives cause it does not follow the Islamic constitution it follows it own constitution made by a parliament.........
get the right information and post comment and news on websites you wankers.........
"Dr. Zaikr Naik" is a Saudi Wahabi influence "Scholar", his views on many things don't represent those of all the Sunni and Shia Muslims in the world. Just like the 700 Club does not represent the views of all Christians. Here is more information regarding how Islam does not punish for apostasy (unless your an extremist nut case): http://www.examiner.com/islam-in-columbus/islam-apostasy-no-punishment
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