The conflict between Adhaalath and President Over Islamic Issues

The President has a developed a habit of making a statement or two about Islam in his Friday address to the nation.And Adhaalath party is in need of a software which which will auto create a press release condemning president's statements.By software I mean,the contents of these press releases are almost identical except for the subject matter raised by the president.A software can create a new spin every week by replacing a few words.

Jokes aside,there are important points which need to be realised

1.The president is on a mission to position himself as a 'moderate Muslim ruler' who wants to join the international bandwagon of 'Islamic reform'.By making a statement here and there about Islam,he is forcing the public to debate about Islam.And the fact that the loyalty for the party is so strong among MDP supporters,they find it extremely difficult to disagree with the president or condemn him.Whatever little criticism that is targeted against him is of the watered down type which depicts him as an innocent guy who is under a lot of pressure from a few rotten apples,which is simply not true because of the following facts:

a)Sula Shiraaz incident
b)Establishing relations with Israel
c)Appointment of a Christian Maldivian woman to a post in president's office
d)His mention of Islamic penal code
e)His mention of permitting places of worship for non-Muslims

Dont you all see a pattern here?

2.Adhaalath party,by responding to the president's statements, in the watered down tone and apologetic style is trying to maintain its image of an Islamic party so that some of their scholars can sell few speech CDs.This party is also used to quell any opposition to the government.By releasing these shallow and abstract press releases Adhaalath wants to remind people that they have already condemned the government and other political parties need not say a word. Brand hijacking in its best form.

So its a win win situation for both the president and Adhaalath. While the president receives accolades for creating doubt about Islam's suitability Adhaalath party can still appear as the champions of Islam