President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has urged Maldivians to refrain from backbiting, slander, insults and lies, calling on the public to set an example of mutual respect.
Speaking at the launch of the National Respect Initiative tonight, President Muizzu said the Maldives is a 100 percent Islamic country and that respecting one another is essential to upholding its Islamic and national identity.
He said people must respect and protect one another's families, property and reputations.
"We must always remember that the spirit of our Islamic and Maldivian identity is respect and upholding mutual respect. We must be careful not to do anything that will detract from each other's dignity and respect," he said.
The President urged the public to avoid backbiting, ridicule, name calling and belittling others, and to refrain from slander and insults.
He said that eliminating such behavior would help the Maldives become a civilized society guided by the values of Islam.
"If we purify our society from the evils of slander and lying, we will be an incomparable example of respect, God willing," he said.
President Muizzu also described respect as an invisible force that grows like a seed into something beneficial for society. He compared it to a tree whose branches provide shelter and whose fruits bring nourishment and comfort to the soul.
Referring to modern psychological research, he said respecting one another's status strengthens compassion and social bonds, contributing to peace and happiness.
The President said respect should extend to every aspect of life, including public spaces, the environment, plants and wildlife.
"We have to respect our roads. There has to be respect in our everyday life. We have to respect our environment, plants and natural life," he said.
He also called for respect to be upheld in workplaces, schools, homes and families, as well as in friendships and brotherhood.
He said the public must respect the country's peace and security, along with its national reputation and standing.
"This is the resolve that each of us sets tonight. The resolve to regain the happiness of our ancestors' glorious and safe past," he said.
President Muizzu said the initiative should inspire people to improve their behavior and relationships in accordance with Islamic principles and work towards building a developed and civilized society.
He called on Maldivians to embrace the initiative with sincerity and commitment, saying it aimed to raise public consciousness through Islamic values.
The President said the goal was to build a Maldivian Muslim society that upholds human dignity, preserves national heritage and takes pride in its nationality and identity.
