Maldives' super model, who identifies herself by the moniker Kaizeen, has come under fire from Maldives' newspaper "Sun Online", which indirectly categorized her among the "false gods" of the worldwide "neo-paganism" movement.
In a Maldives' native Dhivehi language feature dated Thursday and titled “Islam Dhookoh Neo-paganism Ah” (loosely translated as “Leaving Islam and Towards Neo-paganism"), which reflected conservative and traditionalist views and traced the historical aspects of paganism and neo-paganism, writer Ahmed Majid states that neo-paganism (which he describes as "Vasanihyath" in Dhivehi) “condones as rightful action" such things as "fireworks in the nation" when the “birthday comes” for such "a god".
Majid does not mention Kaizeen by name but it is only recently that Kaizeen had her birthday marked by paying for fireworks to have conducted by the Maldives' military, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Majid attacks, among other things, actors who act in films, people who do modelling, DJ parties, getting high on drugs, and fraudulent politicians who seek power through money, property, and status.
One of the main or basic characteristics of neo-paganism is "media" that term such "false gods" as "celebrities" and put them on a "sky high pedestal" and describe them as "stars", Majid goes on to say.
He says that "modern media", in the same manner, could be described as "temples" of neo-paganism, along with "discotheques, alcohol infused parties, night clubs, and casinos".
Such media "glorify and constantly report on neo-paganism culture’s political 'leaders', whatever their ‘statements and actions' are, and ‘hand over the reigns of the society’ to such leaders", Majid alleges.
He criticizes people who "worship power" without been concerned what is "halal" (permitted in Islam), and "haram" (illegal in Islam), when seeking money - and propagate human rights, democracy, freedoms, and other “evil” and "nonsensical slogans", and seek leadership, power, and status, and worship such power gained through money, property, and status as "life's purpose".
Majid writes that such "false gods" can be identified from "their behavior" that includes "extra marital sex, alcohol consumption, raping friends' cousins and siblings, and people who lie and commit fraud to garner people's support". He writes that such “indecent” actions are the kind of “worship” that is conducted in the “temples of neo-paganism”.
He complains that followers of the neo-paganism movement do not care about the “murdering and beheading” of "little children" in the “manner of cockroaches” in “Palestine, Kashmir, Syria, and Yemen” and that the neo-paganism ideology “shows the path” to its adherents to “cry” on social media if their false “gods” commit suicide.
He claims that, despite no historical records because people didn’t start writing history until about 5,500 years ago, in the light of Islam it is clear that paganism came to the scene after Islam.
He goes on to point out that the most prominent "scholars" of the neo-paganism movement are those such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris.
Majid elaborates that the "martyrs" of the movement are "civil society organizations and individuals who call for same-sex relations, alcohol consumption, and advocate, publish reports, post tweets, and issue statements promoting illicit sexual relations".
At the onset of the article, Majid writes that he wrote about this topic some years ago but decided to write about it again because there has been a “change in circumstances then and now”.
Majid concludes his report stating that: "Neo-paganism, considering from various ways, is the most prominent production of the cursed Satan, from the time of Adam been sent to Earth. One of the most prominent aspects of it is that Muslims can follow this 'religion' while Muslims in name. Jews can continue to follow Judaism, and Christians can continue to follow Christianity, while at the same time following this 'religion'. 'Everyone' whose 'mind and body' is 'not destroyed' can 'clearly see this from observing what is happening in our society'. 'This picture of Maldives leaving Islam and speedily falling into neo-paganism can be clearly seen'".
“people didn’t start writing history until about 5,500 years ago, in the light of Islam it is clear that paganism came to the scene after Islam.” Writer Majid missed out on so many things like the Göbekli Tepe, Chauvet Cave in France, dating to earlier than 30,000 BC, the movement of the human species throughout Asia, the Denisova hominins the Flores people of the Flores islands of Indonesia who lived 50,000 years ago etc. of course they did not write history like we do today. But they left behind irrefutable evidence of their existence. The writer ought to educate himself a little in history & anthropology before making such audacious claims. But then again his audience is Maldivians. To nearly everyone in Maldives what he has written is historically accurate.
ReplyDeleteWell. Maybe someone who loves her wanted to make her feel very special on her birthday. Why is it anyone else's business what they do with their money, coming up with conspiracy theories and speculations to discredit her. Many were thankful just to be able to enjoy some fireworks. And then there's the Majids jumping at any opportunity to go moral police on women.
ReplyDeleteIsn't what Majid writes about pretty clear and true when a prominent journalist feels a strong need to defend Kaizeen by writing this article and generating comments that will further defend Kaizeen?
ReplyDeleteWhat gives you the idea that the 'prominent journalist' Hilath is defending Kaizeen? This blogpost is a clearly straightforward summary translation of Majid's article. The fact that Hilath has focused the title of the article and the leading paragraphs on Kaizeen doesn't mean Hilath is necessarily defending Kaizeen.
DeleteA close scrutiny of the choice of words sets a certain tone to the whole 'summary translation'. Important parts of Majid's writing mostly spanning the first 12 paragraphs are almost non-existent in this summary. Therefore, Majid's complete explanation of his concept from the beginning is downplayed and devoid of recognition in the summary.
ReplyDeleteThe summary does not do justice to the valuable historical religious information brought in Majid's article and to the concept he is trying to explain in detail. Only the last 4 paragraphs of Majid's article has been actually made the main focus of the whole 'summary translation' which seems targeted for a specific purpose, as those latter paragraphs talk about the more controversial topics related to the modern world.
Summarising maybe the translator's choice, but the choice reveals its own story. In short, it would be of much more benefit for a Maldivian Muslim to read Majid's article than reading this summary translation.