Video threats, religious extremism and Maldives tourism
Whether the video message threatening to kill the president and harm tourism is authentic or a hoax, it does a lot of harm for the Maldives’ reputation as a safe and paradise-like honeymoon destination, writes Hawwa Kareem
01 Sep 2015, 9:00 AM
On Tuesday, a video message was posted on YouTube threatening to kill President Abdulla Yameen and launch terrorist attacks on Maldives’ luxury tourism industry. Three gun-wielding men in the video, purporting to represent the Islamic State, demanded the government stop harassing a former diplomat in Switzerland, and called for the release of a jailed opposition leader and the withdrawal of a new anti-terror bill. The men gave the government a 30-day ultimatum.
Judging from social media responses, many Maldivians do not believe the video is made by IS, and have labeled it as an attempt by the government to further crackdown on the opposition. If it is authentic, then it means Maldivians, disillusioned by months of deadlock, are considering threats of violence to resolve political disputes.
Regardless of whether the video is authentic or a hoax, it does a lot of harm for the Maldives, especially for its reputation as a safe and paradise-like honeymoon destination.
Here are some of the theories put forth on social media – the video was released to distract the Maldivian public from the storm of criticism against the government over the death of 24-year-old Azfa Zuhair, who died from injuries after being struck by a metal post leftover from last month’s Independence Day celebrations.
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