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Maldives ban spas and massage
Spas and massage parlors in the Maldives archipelago must close, the government has ordered , bowing to pressure from islamists in a move that may imperil the mainstay tourism sector.
Credit: Yann Saint-Yves
For a lot of Maldivian resorts, spas and massage is big business.
The Times of India | Maldives to shut down luxury spas, massage parlours | 01-02-2012
Tourism brings in $1.5 billion annually to the economy, or 30 percent of the small nation's GD
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The government has decided to close massage parlors and spas in the Maldives, following an opposition-led religious protest last week calling for their closure
”—Statement from President Mohamed Nasheed's office
The country's president issued the decree, saying the idea came from opposition parties who claimed widespread sales of pork and alcohol in the mainly Sunni Muslim nation of more than 1,200 atolls housing a population of 400,000 were offensive.
Last week, some 3,000 people protested and called on the government to halt what they called "anti-Islamic" activities. Sunni Islam is the official religion in the Maldives and practicing any other faith is forbidden.
The protest was called by the opposition Adhaalat, or Justice, Party, and several other groups that accuse President Mohammed Nasheed's government of compromising principles of Islam and want strict Islamic law.
The country's tourism minister said the move has already prompted calls from resorts affected.
Primary source â–ş Maldives to shut down luxury spas, massage parlours
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