Maldivians In Competing Protests Over Islam

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Thousands of Maldivians are protesting in the state’s capital calling on the government to enforce strict Islamic law while government supporters are holding a counter rally against what they call religious extremism.

More than 3,000 people are gathered Friday heeding a call by opposition Adhaalat or Justice Party and several other religious groups that accuse President Mohammed Nasheed’s government of compromising principles of Islam.

Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party also holds a meeting to defend a “moderate” stand.

Maldives is an Indian Ocean archipelago of 300,000 Muslims that prohibits practicing any other religion.