Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout

    India
    Business
    World
    Politics
    Sports
    Technology
    Entertainment
    Auto
    Lifestyle
    Inspirational
    Career
    Bengaluru
    Delhi
    Mumbai

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    Home / News / World News / Maldives: Yameen government to sell atoll to Saudi Arabia
    Next Article
    Maldives: Yameen government to sell atoll to Saudi Arabia

    Maldives: Yameen government to sell atoll to Saudi Arabia

    By NewsBytes Desk
    Mar 04, 2017
    03:00 am

    What's the story

    The government of Abdulla Yameen has decided to sell the Faafu atoll to Saudi Arabia. The move will give the entire territorial control of the land to the Saudis.

    Faafu is one of 26 atolls in the Maldives. Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will travel to Maldives soon.

    The Maldivian opposition decried the move, saying the people's consent was not taken.

    Wahhabis and Salafis

    Rise of religious fundamentalism in Maldives

    The rise of Salafism in the Maldives has been widely discussed in the last 5 years.

    Wahhabi ideology has also begun steadily permeating into Maldivian society. Though Wahhabism and Salafism advocate the same fundamentalist Islamic principles, Wahhabism is a relatively younger form of Islam that originated in Saudi Arabia.

    It is the dominant faith of Saudi Arabia.

    You're
    16%
    through

    Do you know?

    What is Wahhabism?

    Wahhabism is a form of Islam which originated in Saudia Arabia. It believes in strict adherence to Koranic principles and believes that any Muslim who doesn't follow Wahhabi principles is an enemy of the faith. Analysts point out several linkages to Wahhabi ideology and terrorism.

    You're
    33%
    through

    Terror

    Maldives: Exporting terrorism

    The Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict stated that since 2013, between 200-250 Maldivian citizens have joined ISIS and are in Syria or Iraq; other estimates put the number at 100-150.

    Several Maldivian youth affiliated to al-Qaeda and LeT have been arrested in India and Sri Lanka as well.

    Maldives has the highest per-capita number of fighters alongside ISIS in Syria.

    You're
    50%
    through

    June 2015

    Maldives amends constitution to sell land to foreigners

    The Maldivian government amended its constitution to allow foreigners to own entire islands in the state.

    The move set alarm bells ringing in India and China as it could lead to creation of new front-line states in the Sino-Indian competition for influence in the region.

    A foreign party that invests more than $1 billion in a project can be granted freehold in the area.

    You're
    66%
    through

    Cause

    Is it a cause for concern?

    The Maldivian Democratic Party has stated that Yameen seeks to bring in religious scholars from Saudi Arabia to open up Wahhabi madrassas in the Maldives.

    This has raised concerns among moderates in the country, because over 70% of the Maldivian population already ascribes to Wahhabism.

    Wahhabism's links to terrorism, coupled with Maldives' current problem of youth unemployment and home-grown terrorism is a major concern.

    You're
    83%
    through

    India

    Will India have to take a stand?

    Maldives is the only country in the region that PM Modi avoided visiting.

    India has been opposed to Abdulla Yameen's policies and has been vocally critical of former President Mohammed Nasheed's unceremonious detention.

    India is of the view that democracy is eroding in the Maldives.

    However, with the prospect of Wahhabi schools coming up in the region, India may have to take a stand.

    Done!
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Latest
    India
    ISIS
    Saudi Arabia

    Latest

    26 Indian locations targeted by Pakistan in fresh drone attack    Jammu
    Explosion reported near Srinagar Airport; countermeasures activated   Amritsar
    ECB proposes to host remaining IPL 2025 matches, claims report BCCI
    PSL 2025 postponed indefinitely due to India-Pakistan tensions Pakistan Cricket Board

    India

    Government announces plans for a start-up district Business
    INS Sarvekshak: First naval warship to run on solar energy Indian Navy
    Used cars sales fall by 42% due to demonetization GST
    SEBI will allow new players in the commodity derivatives market Reserve Bank Of India (RBI)

    ISIS

    Washington Police Officer arrested for helping ISIS Federal Bureau of Investigation
    Indonesia foils attack on Singapore United States of America
    Swedish church to drop Bibles in ISIS-controlled areas United States of America
    Hundreds of civilians abducted by ISIS freed Civil War

    Saudi Arabia

    Sharp drop in foreign remittances Indian Government
    Iran executes nuclear scientist on the charge of treason Supreme Court Of India
    Death toll in Yemen suicide bombing rises to 60 United States of America
    Thousands of Saudis sign petition to end male guardianship Human Rights Watch
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2025