From People of Shambala:
On the same day as the Maldives President resigned, after a coup by police, Islamic hardliners burst into the national museum and smashed Buddhist statues.
Police spokesman Ahmed Shiyam told police that “A mob entered the museum yesterday (Tuesday). They smashed many statues. This included some statues of Buddha," reports Al Arabiya News.
Former President, Mohamed Nasheed, blamed the attack on hardliner Muslims.
There has been a debate for some weeks over statues in the Maldives. Several that had been gifted to the nation from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and other nations, were denounced by extremists as "idolatry," and as unacceptable to Islam. The statues were removed from public view after protests.
After being forced to resign yesterday, Nasheed's Democratic Party headquarters was also reportedly smashed up by a mob, and a member of the party was killed.
The destruction of the Buddha statues suggest that Islamic hardliners are intent on establishing sharia as the state law of the Maldives.
Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:41 AM PST
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| Former President Mohamed Nasheed before his resignation on Tuesday. |
Police spokesman Ahmed Shiyam told police that “A mob entered the museum yesterday (Tuesday). They smashed many statues. This included some statues of Buddha," reports Al Arabiya News.
Former President, Mohamed Nasheed, blamed the attack on hardliner Muslims.
There has been a debate for some weeks over statues in the Maldives. Several that had been gifted to the nation from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and other nations, were denounced by extremists as "idolatry," and as unacceptable to Islam. The statues were removed from public view after protests.
After being forced to resign yesterday, Nasheed's Democratic Party headquarters was also reportedly smashed up by a mob, and a member of the party was killed.
The destruction of the Buddha statues suggest that Islamic hardliners are intent on establishing sharia as the state law of the Maldives.
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