Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the capital of Maldives, Male, Friday, (23/12). Demonstrators urged the government to enforce Islamic law and stop the anti-Islamic activities, including a plan that allows direct flights to Israel.

"We are here to demonstrate that we will not support those policies, but we are not extremists," said the leader of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), Ahmed Ali Thasmeen. He affirmed that the Maldives will forever be a nation of Islam.

More than 3,000 demonstrators accused the government of President Mohammed Nasheed has sacrificed the principles of Islam. Protesters also urged the government of Maldives to stop selling alcohol at various places, close brothels masquerading as massage parlors.

In addition, they also demanded the government to destroy the monument marking the South Asian summit last month because many people interpret it as an idol. Similar protests emerged last month after a meeting with a committee of the UN human rights, Navi Pillay. Pillay, who met with the Maldives president asks end to the practice of flogging carried out against women who prove adultery.

The incident sparked protests in the island nation. They called for the arrest Pillary. Protesters surrounded the UN building, and the United Nations is demanding an apology and a member of parliament.

In answer to protests yesterday, the president of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, also asked the people to be more bertoleran. Nasheed urged the 330,000 Sunni Muslims, to reject religious extremism and supporting the "traditional form" of Islam that has been practiced in the Maldives for the past 800 years.

Nasheed said that moderate Islam is very important to preserve the tourism industry that generates more than two-thirds of state revenues. "To build our economy, we need foreign investment and we need to create an environment in which foreigners can invest. We can not achieve development by going back to the Stone Age or something stupid," said Nasheed. Maldives is an archipelago with 1,200 islands renowned for tourism.