Gov’t Responds to Criticism Over Funeral Prayers for Hamas Leader

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem, has defended the government’s position on the optional funeral prayers in absentia for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, following his assassination last week.

The Ministry faced criticism from some religious scholars, including former Islamic Minister Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali, who argued that the government should have mandated these prayers across the Maldives.

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In response, Dr. Shaheem clarified that it is not obligatory to conduct funeral prayers in absentia, urging against politicising the matter.

Gaibah kashu namaadhu kurumaki Vaajibeh tho? Ehenviya vaajibuvaa kamuge dhaleeleh dhakkavaa dhevvaa. Dheenee kameh thi gothah siyaasee kollumaki varah bodu nubayeh. Sarukaaraa medhu nafrathu ufaddhan thi kuraa masakkay huttaalan jehey @AhmedZahirAli https://t.co/ydvLuhVQEg— Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed (@Mohamedshaheem1) August 2, 2024

“Is funeral prayers in absentia wajib (obligatory)? If so, show evidence. It’s very wrong to politicise a religious matter. You need to stop these efforts to create hate towards the government,” he stated, responding to a post on X by the former minister.

The religious conservative Adhaalath Party had earlier sent a letter to Dr. Shaheem, requesting the government to hold nationwide funeral prayers in absentia for Haniyeh.

ހެޔޮރަޙްމަތް ލައްވާ ޝަހީދެއް ކަމުގައި ލައްވާށި. އާމީން pic.twitter.com/EQjkiEYurp— Ahmed Zahir Ali (@AhmedZahirAli) August 2, 2024

The letter, signed by Dr. Mohamed Iyaz Abdulla, emphasised the importance of recognising Haniyeh’s personal sacrifices for the Palestinian cause and called on the ministry to initiate these prayers in support of the Palestinian people and the broader Muslim community.

Dr. Zahir said that the ministry did not issue an official response to the letter. Instead, it informed imams across the country that they could choose to conduct the prayers after the Friday prayer if they wished, whic Zahir described as “unacceptable”.

Ismail Haniyeh was the political leader of Hamas and previously served as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. He was killed in a planned pre-dawn attack on Wednesday while he was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iranian President Masaoud Pezeshkian.