Home Minister Umar Naseer has levelled serious allegations against former Foreign Minister Kerafa Naseem, claiming that he had sent Maldivians to participate in the Syrian civil conflict. Minister Umar said that the former Foreign Minister counted these Maldivians and the Maldivians residing in UK as part of the so-called jihadists.
He made the statement in response to the claims made by Naseem, who had alleged that the number of Maldivians in Syria was around 300, rather than the 40 claimed by the Ministry.
Minister Umar said many had travelled from various nations to participate in the Syrian civil conflict and that this was not a unique situation for Maldives.
He said many citizens from US, UK and Europe were leaving on a daily basis and that Maldives was picked as a special case solely to taint the nation’s reputation.
Saudi Arabia had recently publicized a report which had focused on the nationalities of the arrested jihadists. The report had especially noted that eight Americans had been arrested.
Many Indian papers had drawn parallels between Maldives and terror.