In our article ‘Why is the President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu turning a blind eye to Jamiyytah Salaf?’ published yesterday we exposed that Jamiyyath Salaf is an organization that poses as a people-centric NGO working to preach and propagate the tenets of the Islamic faith. But this is just a facade to cover its real face – which is that of Islamic radicalization.
Jamiyyath Salaf is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and Dr Muizzu is content in accepting them being sheep. And with each passing day as Islamic radicalism grows in Maldives, if you dig deeper you will find traces of the Islamic radical mindset being spread by extremist organizations in Maldives, Jamiyyath Salaf being one of the most influential and potent in radicalizing the young people of Maldives.
In 2019, JS was being investigated by the government of Maldives on allegations of supporting and encouraging terrorism in the country. Presidential Commission Investigating Murders and Enforced Disappearances’s report on MP and religious scholar Dr. Afrasheem’s murder revealed that an extremist religious organization (referring to JS) was behind the murder of the former MP. A closed-door meeting was held by the 241 Committee to discuss taking action against the Jamiyyath Salaf. The then Speaker Mohamed Nasheed stated that he had received information that the sub-committee formed by the 241 committee had decided that Jamiyyath Salaf is a religious group that encourages and supports terrorism and that the committee is preparing to take action against the organization.
Jamiyyath Salaf had stated then, that the Presidential Commission Investigating Enforced Murders and Disappearances mentioned the name of the organization in their report on the murder of former MP and religious scholar, Dr. Afrasheem Ali, in a bid to tarnish the good name of the organization.
In 2019, the Maldivian Parliament passed to take immediate action against Dr. Mohamed Shaheem and Jamiyyath Salaf and any affiliated people to the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali. The Parliament passed this after a vote taken on the report compiled by the Security Services Committee (241 Committee) following its review of the Disappearances and Deaths Commission (DDCOm)’s report of Dr. Afrasheem’s murder. The report by 241 committee included recommendations against several local groups including Jamiyyath Salaf. The report was passed with the vote of 47 lawmakers out of 59 who were present. 10 had voted against passing the report. The committee report classified Jamiyyath Salaf as the organization that headed all extremist actions related to the murder of Dr. Afrasheem. Local extremist groups flagged in the report include; local Al-Qaeda branch, local groups affiliated with Islamic State (IS), Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda in Syria or al-Qaeda in the Levant), and extremist groups that operate near Masjid al-Furqan.
During the election campaign in Maldives last year, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s campaign team leveled various allegations against the current President of Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, labeling him a “PNC-Salaf candidate”. Dr Muizzu, however, denied these allegations stating that he does not have any connections and is not engaged in any negotiations or deals with the religious conservative organisation Jamiyyath Salaf.
The denial of the President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu about his connections with Jamiyyath Salaf must be questioned with facts because he has lied openly to the media and the people of Maldives about his connections. They are not only connections but a member of the Jamiyyath Salaf is a relation of Dr Muizzu.
The President of Jamiyyath Salaf is Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed (sometimes spelled Muhammad like in his Facebook account). His National ID Number is A049011. He is the son of the Late Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim who was a prominent leader known for promoting and propagating Wahhabism in Maldives. He was the infamous Takfiri Kharijite of Baabul Avaalee, which incidentally also is the address of the family home in Male. According to government records, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed was born on 03/04/1976 and his address is Baabul Avaalee. He is known to have links with Pakistani Jamia and has received some training from Lashkar-E-Toiba (LeT). He is also referred to as Abdullah Janab.
The president of Jamiyyath Salaf Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed has a younger brother. His name is Ibrahmin Mohamed (sometimes spelled Muhammad like in the government records). He is born on 19/06/1977. He is also known for his Islamic radical views and is also seen as a figurehead of Jamiyyath Salaf and is also reportedly a part of the political circle in the country. He is known to have links with Pakistani Jamia and some received some training from Lashkar-E-Toiba (LeT). His address on the National ID is Baabul Avaalee. He is also referred to as Ibrahim Janab. His National ID Number is A048062. He is considered to be the most extreme of the siblings with a militant bent of mind.
Also living at the house address is Sajidha Mohamed, who was born on 08/06/1978 according to government records. Sajidha Mohamed is the first lady of Maldives and the wife of the President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. She is the daughter of the Late Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim and sister of the President of Jamiyyath Salaf Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed. Her National ID Number is A096640. Her address on the National ID is Baabul Avaalee.
The President of Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu is related to the President of Jamiyyath Salaf Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed through marriage and they are brothers-in-law.
Jamiyyath Salaf (JS) has been in support of Jihadism in the Syrian Civil War since it began in 2011. It has been reportedly inciting the Maldivian Youth ideologically, financially, and physically into the Jihadism of the Syrian Civil War.
Through its website Raajjeislam, JS operatives, since 2009, began introducing Islamic radical doctrine and emotional rhetoric of Islamic radicalism into Maldivian society. In 2011, they started to share disturbing graphic videos and pictures of wounded Muslims in Syria which created an urge within the Maldivian youth to defend the honor of the oppressed Muslims. Then speeches of radical Islamic clerics were translated to further instigate and brainwash the Muslim youth in Maldives. On March 26, 2012, JS President, Abdullah Bin Janab took to a social media platform and shared the following message: Muslims will revenge for the recompense of the oppressed women and children and the injured Muslims due to the oppression of disbelievers in Syria. Further on May 22, 2012, JS President, Abdullah Bin Janab stated on a social media post: The bearing of oppression by Syrian Muslims is a radiant of Islamic Jihad. Oppressive tyrants could be ceased upon Jihad.
On May 30, 2012, JS leader Adam Shameen openly encouraged Muslim youths to go to Syria to wage Jihad. He stated on social media: Praying for Syrian Muslims is not the only thing you can do. There are Muslims doing other things too. Jihad is also being done in Syria. If you are able you also go – don’t wait. Different people have different excuses and Allah almighty shall judge according to each person’s situation. On May 24, 2014, Adam Shameen stated on social media: May Allah accept the martyrdom of all the Muslims and the Maldivian brothers who died at the hands of the enemies in Shaam (a region in Syria) and elsewhere. May the victory be given to Jihadists.
Details in GoaChronicle possession show that in September 2014, Jamiyyath Salaf stood in defense of ISIS against the coalition made by the USA with Arab Muslims States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On September 20, 2014, JS leader, Ali Rameez Qaasim stated on a social media platform: What ‘Jihad’ is going to be done by Arab States joining those people whose hands are filled with the blood of Muslims?
Jamiyyath Salaf members even come out in support of the Charlie Hebdo Terror Attack in France. JS President Abdullah Bin Janab on January 8, 2015, stated: If the attack done to the news which mocked Prophet Mohammad we are assured to be Muslims, it is evident that the conscience of the Muslims is not yet dead. Furthermore, on January 9, 2015, JS President, Abdullah Bin Janab, stated: In reaching the aims, we can get encouragement from the act of planning the attackers of the news which mocked the Prophet Mohammad.
Jamiyyath Salaf over the years has publically distanced itself from its association with ISIS, Al-Qaida, and ISIS-K. Keeping distance from associated terror outfits was done not to allow such links to become a sore point with Maldives growing relations with China but intelligence sources reveal that the links may not be public anymore and Jamiyyath Salaf may have publically questioned the works of ISIS-K, Al Qaida and ISIS in recent times but the radicalism of the people of Maldives by this NGO continues in the guise of protecting the interest of Islam.
President of Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu is merely protecting the interests of his family and political career by turning a blind eye to Jamiyyath Salaf. Dr. Muizzu may be seen more as a puppet of China but he is certainly allowing the people of Maldives to believe that Jamiyyath Salaf is a sheep and not a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
