President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the strengthening of friendly relations and multilateral ties with the global community is vital to the sustenance of the country's independence. He made the remarks in a televised address to the nation on the joyful occasion of the Maldives' 56th Anniversary of Independence.
Speaking to the public, President Solih extended greetings and well wishes to the Maldivian people on the occasion of the Maldives’ Independence Day. He noted that every Maldivian victory in pursuit of independence for the nation had come as a result of its faith in Islam and the bonds of unity amongst the people. The President highlighted that despite the actions of some radical groups promoting extremist views amongst us, these radical views contradict the belief of Islam. He called upon the people to unite and stand up against these groups. President Solih further said that spreading Islamophobic hate speech is a treacherous act that divides the people and that neither of these acts would be tolerated. He added that these two issues cannot be resolved by only pursuing legal action but rather by following the true teachings of Islam.
The President revealed that efforts by the government are focused on identifying and incorporating Islamic values into the education sector to best assist parents in nurturing their children to adopt the true Islamic teachings of compassion from an early age.
The president further said that the Maldives was able to secure the Presidency of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) due to the country's policy of strengthening connections while respecting the sovereignty and selective boundaries of independence of other nations.
