www.rsis.edu.sg 25 – 311 August3 – 19 April 2014 2015

Country Weekly Report of International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research

Maldives

Terrorism

It was reported on 15 April 2015 that there were several factors driving Maldivians to travel to Syria to join terrorist organisations such as Jabhat al Nusra (JN) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS).1 These reasons are primarily radical jihadist ideology (particularly the blissful afterlife promised in jihadist ideology2), escape from or for atonement for past sins due to a life of drug abuse and gang membership as well as the lack of economic opportunities in the (approximately 25% of Maldivians are unemployed).3 Significantly, it was estimated that over 100 Maldivian jihadist fighters who have travelled to Iraq and Syria were former members of the powerful street gangs in Male such as ‘Masodi’, ‘Kudahemveiru’, ‘Bosnia’, ‘Buru’ and ‘Petrel’ (which are in turn linked to heroin cartels and protection rackets4).5 Like other jihadists, Maldivian fighters have recently begun to travel to the Syrian conflict zone with their wives and children.6

1 “From Maldives, road to Islamic State goes via drugs, gangs and jail”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/video-from-maldives-road-to-islamic-state-goes-via-drugs- gangs-and-jail/, 15 April 2015). 2 “From family to ex-gangster, IS pulls Maldives men”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/from-kerala-family-to-ex-gangster-is-pulls-maldives-men/, 14 April 2015). 3 “From Maldives, road to Islamic State goes via drugs, gangs and jail”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/video-from-maldives-road-to-islamic-state-goes-via-drugs- gangs-and-jail/, 15 April 2015); “From Kerala family to ex-gangster, IS pulls Maldives men”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/from-kerala-family-to-ex-gangster-is-pulls-maldives-men/, 14 April 2015). 4 “From Kerala family to ex-gangster, IS pulls Maldives men”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/from-kerala-family-to-ex-gangster-is-pulls-maldives-men/, 14 April 2015). 5 “From Maldives, road to Islamic State goes via drugs, gangs and jail”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/video-from-maldives-road-to-islamic-state-goes-via-drugs- gangs-and-jail/, 15 April 2015). 6 “From Kerala family to ex-gangster, IS pulls Maldives men”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/from-kerala-family-to-ex-gangster-is-pulls-maldives-men/, 14 April 2015).

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It is believed that the primary venue for jihadist recruitment in the Maldives is prison, through preaching groups such as Adam Shameem’s ‘Odyssey of Dawa’, Ibrahim Fareed’s ‘Islamic Foundation’, the ‘Jamaat-ul-Bayan’, and ‘Jamaat-ul-Salaf’.7 It is also believed that the present Maldives’ jihadist network is linked to terrorist groups in such as Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP).8

7 “From Maldives, road to Islamic State goes via drugs, gangs and jail”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/video-from-maldives-road-to-islamic-state-goes-via-drugs- gangs-and-jail/, 15 April 2015). 8 “From Kerala family to ex-gangster, IS pulls Maldives men”, The Indian Express (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/from-kerala-family-to-ex-gangster-is-pulls-maldives-men/, 14 April 2015).

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