News 1st

Burial rites for the late President Ibrahim Nasir were held this morning.

The funeral prayer was held after the Fajr prayer at Masjid-ul Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu-al Auzam. After the funeral prayers, late President Nasir was buried with full honours at the Friday Mosque.
After the coffin was taken to the Friday Mosque, the flag that draped the coffin was folded and presented to President Nasheed by the Commander of the Bearer Party. After that, President Nasheed presented the flag to Ismail Nasir, son of late President Nasir. As the coffin was lowered in to the tomb, a funeral call by the Band Party was played. After that, 7 gun salutes were given which was followed by the National Anthem played by the brass band of MNDF.

The funeral services were attended by members of the late Ibrahim Nasir’s family, President Nasheed, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed, Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Mr. Mohamed Shihab; Chief Justice, Uz. Abdulla Saeed;, Members of the Cabinet; State Dignitaries, Judges of the Supreme Court; Members of the People’s Majlis; State Ministers, Presidents of independent Commissions; Deputy Ministers and Senior Officials of the President’s Office.

The funeral prayer was also attended by a large number of members of the general public.

The body of former President Ibrahim Nasir was laid to rest with full state honours early this morning at the grounds of Male' Friday Mosque. The former President was given a 7 gun salute and national anthem was played when his coffin was lowered to the ground carried by Maldives National Defence Force officers. President Mohamed Nasheed, late President's son Ismail Nasir, close family members and family friends,Vice President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku, Speaker Mohamed Shihab, Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed, ministers, members of the People's Majlis, judges of judicial courts, Chairmen of independent commissions, State dignitaries, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Officials of the President's Office attended the janaza rites of the late President. A large number of public were in attendance. Late President Nasir's body was carried from the Presidential Palace to the Mosque of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanul Auzam where janaza prayers were conducted for him. Janaza prayers lead by Minister of Justice Dr. Abdul Majeed Bari, was attended by President Nasheed, Vice President, late President Nasir's son Ismail Nasir and family members and friends ministers MPs as well as the other high raking government officials attending janaza rites and very large number of the general public. The mosque was packed with people. President Nasir's body was then carried to the Male' Friday Mosque grounds with the same state honours and laid to rest there. Friday Mosque is the resting place of several kings and other distinguished leaders of the country. The Mosque is very close to the house where late Nasir lived. Yesterday and last night a record number of people visited the Presidential Palace to pay their last respects to late President Ibrahim Nasir. Long queues of people were waiting in rain for 2 - 3 hours before being able to get their chance of seeing the face of the late President and offer their last respects to the leader who rendered invaluable service to the country including attaining political independence from Britain in 1965. The whole country is mourning the death of President Nasir and people are feeling shame their hero of independence and modernisation had to spend the last 30 years of his life in exile. Late President had not been able to visit his beloved country since he left the country on 7 December 1978 about a month after President Maumooon Abdul Gayoom took over leadership, amid mounting fears of intimidation and harassment against President Nasir over what has been alleged as abuse of power and government funds. Pesident Nasir was sentenced in absentia for misappropriation of state funds soon after and was stripped off the state honours conferred on him. President Nasir denied these charges and accused them as politically motivated. During the 30 years of Nasir's self exile, people heard little about him and his services and the young generation of Maldivians have not seen or known about his illustrious leadership. The news about Nasir's death and constant reports of his distinguished political career has drowned the whole country in mourning giving the late leader spontaneous love and respect as never seen before. Nasir would have been very happy if he had received these sentiments and love from the people when he was alive.