Maldives Arrests Muslim Hardline Politician

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Maldives police have arrested a prominent Muslim cleric and leader of a hardline religious political party for allegedly inciting hatred during an anti-government protest.

Sheik Imran, leader of the Justice party, and two other opposition supporters were arrested Friday during a protest against the military’s recent arrest of a senior judge who ordered the release of a government critic.

Imran has accused President Mohamed Nasheed of working against the state religion Islam.

Following a faith other than Islam is forbidden in this Indian Ocean archipelago of 300,000 people. The government recently has warned of rising religious extremism.