President Muizzu Launches National Project on Showing Respect, Calls It a Subject Connected to One's Entire Life

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that the subject of respect is a subject connected to one's entire life. Speaking at the ceremony to inaugurate the national project on showing respect, the President repeated a remark he made when addressing the nation for the first time after taking the oath of office on 17 November 2023. That was the remark he made that day that two types of development would be brought to the Maldives. The President said those two types of development are material development and spiritual development, or in other words, tangible, visible physical structures and spiritual, intellectual, human construction. And even tonight, the President said, he stands with the noble determination and sincere intention to make that promise and that pledge a reality. The President said that showing respect is a very broad and deep subject. He said this is a spiritual reality once seen among Maldivians at a very high level. The President said that the true secret of Maldivians enduring for many ages upon such a noble human reality is the holy religion of Islam. While the Maldives is a one hundred percent Islamic nation, the President said that the people must be a people who respect one another and who protect one another's blood, property and honour. He said that the spirit of Islam and Maldivianness is respecting and valuing one another, and that this must always be remembered. He said that care must be taken not to do anything that would cause even the slightest diminution of another's dignity and worth. Showing respect is an unseen planting by a human being. But the shoots that sprout from that planting are extremely beneficial. Its branches spread to many directions. Its fruit is a deep comfort given to hearts. A sweet nourishment received by the soul. According to findings of modern psychological science, respecting one another's status in a society is something that increases closeness and affinity. And it is something that brings peace and happiness to that society. It is something that conveys a feeling of safety and security. The reason is that this is social upbringing. This is human civilised ethics. The subject of respect is a subject connected to our entire life. We must show respect to our roads. Respect must exist in island life. We must show respect to our environment, to trees and plants and to natural living things. We must show full respect to our duties and responsibilities. The joy of offices and schools and all such places must be made to be respect. Respect must be maintained in our homes and in families. Respect must be maintained in siblinghood and in friendly, compassionate relations. We must show respect to the peace and harmony of the nation. We must show respect to the beautiful name and worth the nation has been given. The President further said that the resolve that must be made anew tonight is the resolve to regain the happiness of the honourable, safe and secure past of our forefathers. The President said that the reformative change each person must bring to their own self is this, and that it is a change of reforming ways of behaving and relations in accordance with the noble standards and beautiful examples of the religion of Islam, and that in that manner, it is making this society into a civilised, developed society, the President said.