Sheikh Imran Says Maldivians Will Never Accept 'Selling the Country and Religion' Amid Rasmalé Row

Former Home Minister and prominent figure in the national movement Sheikh Imran Abdulla has said that even if the President's Office Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) makes any statement, Maldivian citizens will not accept things such as selling the country and the religion of Islam. Mundhu has said regarding the Rasmalé project that the government will proceed with the project and that parties opposed to those works must accept it. Speaking in connection with Mundhu's statement on the Friday "Fathaa iru" programme, Sheikh Imran said that parties involved in this matter know well who President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is and how he does things. He said it is because they do not agree to sell the country, or the homeland, together with the religion that they remain in this position, and that those who accept such things are in a very dangerous position. Referring to Mundhu's statement that there are things that have not been accepted, Sheikh Imran said that Mundhu's statement that there are things Maldivians will not accept is, viewed in one way, a good statement. "Indeed, there are things we will not accept. It is not that they will not be accepted; there are things we will not accept. That is selling our country, auctioning or selling our people's most valuable assets," Imran Abdulla said. In addition, Sheikh Imran said that if the religion of Islam is lost to Maldivians and future generations face hardships and oppression like the people of Palestine suffer for remaining in the religion of Islam, then bringing in a president for a five-year term who would do such things is something the Maldivian people will in no way accept. He also said that the government's leaders must know that Maldivians will not accept such things, and that the people must today raise the question of what Mundhu wishes to achieve by accepting those things.