Maldives Government Shuts Down Sufi Blog

According to Reporters Without Borders, last Saturday the Communications Authority of the Maldives, on the orders of the Islamic affairs ministry, shut down the blog of Ismail Khilath “Hilath” Rasheed because it contained anti-Islamic material. Rasheed is a Sufi, while most Maldivians are Sunni Muslims. Rasheed plans to go to court-- only a court order can permit him to reopen his blog.  Rasheed says this is the beginning of a crackdown by conservatives in control of the Islamic affairs ministry.