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<H1 property="dc.title">Maldives orders hundreds of luxury resorts to close spas
after religious protest</H1>
<H3 property="dc.creator">By Associated Press, <SPAN
class="timestamp updated processed" epochtime="1325262937000"
datetitle="published" pagetype="leaf" contenttype="article">Published:
December 30</SPAN> </H3>
<P>COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Maldives ordered hundreds of its luxury resorts to close
their spas nearly a week after a protest led by opposition parties demanding a
halt to “anti-Islamic” activities, the government said Friday.</P>
<P>A statement from the president’s office said “the government has decided to
close massage parlors and spas in the Maldives, following an opposition-led
religious protest last week calling for their closure.”</P>
<P>An official from the president’s office said the tourism ministry notified
the resorts Thursday but hasn’t confirmed if the spas have been closed. He spoke
on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak on the matter.</P>
<P>The Indian Ocean archipelago with 1,192 tiny coral islands is known for its
exquisite resorts.</P>
<P>Thousands at last week’s protest called on the government to halt what they
called “anti-Islamic” activities. Sunni Islam is the official religion in the
Maldives and practicing any other faith is forbidden.</P>
<P>Last week’s protest was called by the opposition Adhaalat, or Justice, Party
and several other groups that accuse President Mohammed Nasheed’s government of
compromising principles of Islam and want strict Islamic law.</P>
<P>The protesters also want authorities to stop the sale of alcohol in the
islands, shut down brothels operating in the guise of massage parlors and
demolish monuments gifted by other countries marking a South Asian summit last
month because they see them as idols.</P>
<P>They also wanted to halt a plan to allow direct flights to Israel.</P>
<P>Though the country does not allow stoning or executions, it is under scrutiny
for its absence of religious freedom and for punishments such as public
flogging.</P>
<P>Debates on religious issues have emerged since a group vandalized a monument
gifted by Pakistan marking a South Asian summit last month with the image of
Buddha. Buddhism was part of the present Islamic republic’s history.</P>
<P>An angry protest last month followed a call by U.N. High Commissioner for
Human Rights Navi Pillay for the Maldives to end floggings of women being
punished for adultery.</P></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana>Wayne A. Fox<BR><A
href="mailto:wayne.a.fox@gmail.com">wayne.a.fox@gmail.com</A><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>