The government has a special plan to stop the insulting of Islam in the Maldives, Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla said on Sunday night.
The government faced criticism in the past over the alleged failure to take action against apostasy and Maldivians mocking Islam.
Speaking at a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) campaign rally in Haa Dhaal Makunudhoo for next Saturday's presidential election, Imran said teachers and counselors will be trained to reform youth who insult Islam. The government is in the process of devising a rehabilitation mechanism, he added.
"When all of this is well-rounded, with Almighty God's blessing we will achieve a happy and peaceful Maldives," he said.
"Planning done"
The government is aware of the changing circumstances in the country and a plan for ensuring order and stability has been completed, the home minister said.
As an example of the government's full understanding of the crime situation, Imran said individuals who join drug trafficking gangs have been identified.
"We know the youth who have joined those groups either knowingly or unknowingly. The president knows how to reform them and reintegrate them into society as productive people," Imran said.
The government is aware of major drug networks and how they operate, he said.
The government also knows what needs to be done to keep children away from delinquency, which was the reason for deciding to reopen a reformatory for juvenile offenders that was closed 20 years ago, he said.
A rehabilitation mechanism for Maldivian fighters brought back from foreign war zones has been established and the system is considered exemplary by other countries, Imran said.
