The European tourist couple who
underwent a traditional Maldivian ceremony to renew their wedding vows
at the Vilureef Beach and Spa Resort was subjected to the worst form of
verbal abuse and insults by the man assigned to perform the ritual.
The couple was unaware what was being
said as the ceremony was conducted in Dhivehi, the local language. The
whole thing was laid bare when a video of the ritual emerged in You
Tube. Since then, the Maldives government fell under pressure to
investigate the matter and arrest those responsible. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has issued a formal apology to the Swiss couple
concerned and offered compensation for the distress and embarrassment
caused to them.
President Mohamed Nasheed in his weekly
radio address expressed regret and concern for the irresponsible
behaviour of the resort staff involved in carrying out the disgraceful
act.
The Maldives tourism industry is being
consulted by the government to rectify the situation and recover the
damage that might bring to the country’s image abroad.
In the video that emerged, almost 15
people attending the ceremony stood outside the palm leaf enclosure, but
none of them said anything to stop the abuse being hurled at the
couple. According to the local custom, all marriages must be conducted
in the presence of two male witnesses. The people surrounding the
enclosure, including the two witnesses beside the couple neither laughed
nor even reacted strangely to the insults being bombarded at the
couple.
The ‘Ghazi’ Hussein Didi was
believed to have written and carefully memorised the words he uttered in
a tone which appeared to be a form of religious chants or sermon.
Someone, most probably the videographer was heard saying to ‘Ghazi’
to recite a certain line in the composed structure of words. This
indicates that the whole outrageous act was pre-planned and they had
been doing the same in the past. It was very unlikely that the resort
management remained unaware of such bahaviour by its staff for so long.
Hussein Didi and some among those
complicit in the act remain under police custody for investigation while
the Maldives government battles with the fallout from the episode.
____________________________________________________Written by: Ibrahim Nazim
30 October 2010, Saturday
22 Zulqaida 1431
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