Maldives-island nation in the India Ocean 435 miles off Sri Lanka; is an absolutely beautiful tropical paradise with

shimmering blue seas and magnificent beaches. Unfortunately this beautiful paradise is now facing a serious threat-other than rising sea level caused by climate change. Radical Islamic terrorism now threatens Maldives. On October 2007, Maldivian capital Male's tranquility was shaken up by a bomb explosion. Two British nationals were hurt in the explosion which left 10 injured. The incident raise questions over the rising influence of Islamic radicals in the country. Peter Foster at the Telegraph reported that there is growing concern among the residents about strict version of Islam-Wahhabism, gaining ground in historically moderate Maldives. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East have long been favorite destination for Maldivian students seeking higher education. When these students return home, some of them take back more than just their degrees. Under the influence of more stricter version of Islam, they see Maldivian moderation as the wrong way. Erosion of moderation and influx of Arab influence is being decried by women' rights activists too. They say that women's rights-freedom to dress according to their choice, access to employment and their mobility is threatened in Maldives. Writer Fareedha at Rehendhi-a publication focusing on Maldivian women's issues, says that students influenced by Arab culture and ideas are being unleashed upon Maldives and they use their version of Islam as a weapon. Arab influence has meant that Maldivian women are being pushed to give up their rich cultural heritage-which allows them much more freedom than their Arab counterparts. But the government lead by British educated President Mohamed Nasheed, who has been praised for his efforts to combat climate change, has been very slow and weak in responding to the challenges posed by growing number of radicals in the country. His government took office in November 2008, long after the 2007 bombings in the capital Male but is still lagging in when it comes to making fight against radicalization a top national priority. In 2009, nine jihadists from Maldives were arrested in Pakistan's lawless Waziristan province. The province which borders Afghanistan is known Taliban influenced area and often functions as an independent territory when it comes to security and religious matter. Extremely conservative, Waziristan is run by tribal councils. Women have few rights and there have been number of incidents of honor killings. Presence of Maldivian radicals in Pakistan and that too in Waziristan has raised alarm in India, according to the Hindu. There are concerns that extremist outfits could recruit Maldivians in Pakistan and use the island to mount attacks against India. During his New Delhi visit in 2008,President Nasheed cautioned on the possibility of terrorists using pirates to destabilize the Indian Ocean.

As Maldives' vulnerability becomes clearer, its decision to accept two prisoners from Guantanamo Bay comes as a surprise. According to the AFP, President Nasheed remarked on his country's decision saying that, "Letting go an opportunity to help a Muslim brother is not acceptable for me,". He also described the opportunity to welcome the two terror suspects-one Palestinian and the other yet to identified, as an honorable act which would bring prestige to his country of 300,000 Muslims. Maldives' main opposition party and the country's tourism sector has voiced strong opposition to this decision . The tourism industry sees this move as a black spot on the country's reputation as international travel destination. Indeed, President Nasheed welcoming two terror suspects can only embolden Islamic radicals in the country and in the region. Whether the two suspects are guilty or innocent of terrorism charges against them, the radicals will use this as a propaganda tool to unite like minded extremists in Maldives and can also use it as recruitment tool. Emboldening the radicals is not going to help Maldives' main bread winner-the tourism industry. If the island earns a reputation as terrorism, extremist hotbed, tourists will not want to visit. Drop in tourism revenue could seriously jeopardize Maldivian economy, 28% of the country's GDP comes from tourism and related industries. Maldives' location-proximity to India, being an island and largely homogenous Sunni Muslim population and a government still trying to figure out ways to deal with radicals, is what attracts the terrorists to the country. They have found an easy access to the country through students in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. By his decision to welcome two accused terrorists, President Nasheed has only made Maldives more attractive to the radicals. He may have reasons-possibly assurance from the United Sates for financial assistance, to accept the accused terrorists but in the long run it is going to add to growing problem of radical Islam in Maldives.