Religion takes centre stage in Maldives election
Hardliners support the incumbent while the religious conservative party backs the opposition.
30 Jul 2018, 9:00 AM
Religion is once again front and centre ahead of the September 23 presidential election with hardliners supporting the incumbent and the country’s sole religious political party backing the opposition.
The Adhaalath Party was part of a broad coalition that backed President Abdulla Yameen in the 2013 election, during which his frontrunner opponent was accused of pursuing a secularist agenda that posed a threat to the country’s 100 percent Muslim status.
The religious conservative party – which has 6,887 members – is now part of the coalition seeking to replace Yameen with joint opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ‘Ibu.’
“We have confidence in Ibu. He will accept the guidance of religious scholars. He has done that so far,” Adhaalath Party deputy leader Ali Zahir declared at a rally Saturday night.
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