The counter terrorism unit was working with the communications authority of Maldives (CAM) to block websites that are used as a tool for radicalizing and recruiting jihadists from the archipelago, defence minister Adam Shareef Umar revealed Monday.
The minister told reporters on Monday that authorities have found that such websites are used by radical groups to encourage and promote extremist ideologies and behaviour.
"In a bid to prevent rising extremism in the Maldives, we would block those websites for the sake of the entire nation," the minister insisted.
The minister also noted the challenges faced by authorities to stop foreign extremist groups from reaching out to young people in the Maldives through various social networking sites.
Shareef had revealed that the number of locals fighting in foreign conflicts across the world had risen from 49 to 61.
The minister admitted to reporters earlier Monday that religious extremism remains a serious issue for the archipelago, but assured that the authorities were working together to counter the problem.
In that regard, the minister said authorities had managed to stop 68 people, which included women and children from leaving the country to join extremist groups.
Maldives authorities have looked to stem the flow of locals joining the Syrian war, where various sources claims that Maldives has the highest number of fighters in Syria per capita.
Government has looked to take measures to curb the rising extremist ideologies in the island nation with the parliament in August passed a national policy on terrorism.
