The president of the Maldives has ordered the country's resorts to reopen their spas just days after they were shut following Islamic protests.
Mohammed Nasheed relented on his Saturday decree and instead asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the luxury treatment centres are legal or not.
The Indian Ocean islands are a paradise holiday destination renowned for its pristine white sand beaches, turquoise waters and high-end luxury resorts that often cost $1,000 a night.
The order to close the Muslim nation's luxury spas, health centres and massage parlours threatened to sever a vital lifetime to its tourism-dependent economy.
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| Banned: Massage sessions like this at The Huvafen Fushi Spa in the Maldives were deemed offensive |
Mr Nasheed made his first decision following a mass protest on December 23 calling for a halt to 'anti-Islamic activities'.
Other tourist activities that have caused offense are the eating of pork and drinking of alcohol.
Importation of alcohol is already severely prohibited in the Maldives and Islamists are now calling for a complete ban.
The Islamic opposition parties have been pressuring Mr Nasheed over the issues for months.
This week, Mr Nasheed asked the Supreme Court to decide whether operating spas is against the principles of Islam.
He - and many of those involved in the £1billion tourism sector in the Maldives - will be hoping the court allows the businesses to stay open.
The Maldives is a mainly Sunni Muslim nation of more than 1,200 atolls housing a population of 400,000.
Mr Nasheed said that following the ban, 'the silent majority woke up and they wanted to reverse the ruling or the cry of the extremists'.
'Such extreme calls don't really quite find resonance with the majority of the people in the country,' he told CNN.
Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's opposition coalition Progressive Party of Maldives said the government's earlier move was aimed at leisure business owned by some opposition members.
Mr Nasheed conceded on Saturday that many members of the Islamist opposition own many of the spas.
Opposition leaders involved in the tourism industry include Qasim Ibrahim, the founder and chairman of Villa Group, which owns five resorts in the Maldives.
Ibrahim is also the head of Jumhooree Party, which participated in the December 23 demonstration
'We never asked for the ban,' PPM spokesman Ahamed Mahloof said last week.
'We wanted the liquor and massage clinics banned in inhabited islands to prevent prostitution and spread of drugs and alcohol to locals.
'Nasheed is misusing the demands to take revenge by imposing the ban on resorts owned by the opposition members.'
Among the high-profile spas that would be affected by a ban is The Four Seasons at Kuda Huras, which charges $600 for a two-and-a-half hour spa treatment.
Other resorts also charge similar amounts. The country's tourism minister said the move has already prompted calls from resorts affected.
'Several have raised concerns over our decision. We are considering allowing resorts to operate spas. They are also aware of the reasons that led us to take the decision,' Tourism Minister Mariyam Zulfa said.
© Daily Mail, London
'You are swine and infidels' . . . insults at wedding blessing
By Anita Singh
The couple chose an idyllic resort in the Maldives as the perfect place to renew their marriage vows and pledge everlasting love.
But their happiness has turned to humiliation after the wedding video was posted on YouTube and subtitles disclosed that their "Islamic blessing", which was conducted by a hotel employee in the native Dhivehi language, was in fact a stream of insults.
"You are swine. The children that you bear from this marriage will all be bastard swine. Your marriage is not a valid one," he intoned as the couple held up their hands in prayer, blissfully unaware of what was being said.
Dismissing them as pork-eating "infidels", the employee went on: "You are not the kind of people who can have a valid marriage. One of you is an infidel. The other too is an infidel and, we have reason to believe, an atheist who does not even believe in an infidel religion. "You fornicate and make a lot of children. You drink and you eat pork. Most of the children that you have are marked with spots and blemishes."
Several other staff members were present at the ceremony but said nothing. One appeared to be stifling a laugh.
The "celebrant", identified as Hussein Didi, made reference to bestiality and "frequent fornication by homosexuals". Close inspection of the official-looking document in front of him reveals it to be a copy of the staff employment regulations.
The video was shot by hotel employees who can be heard sniggering in the background and debating whether or not the bride is wearing a bra. "Don't look at the breasts!" says one as the bride leans over in her white wedding gown to plant a coconut palm. "My beard has gone grey watching those things. I have seen so many of them now that I don't even want to look any more when I see them."
The ceremony took place at the Vilu Reef Beach and Spa Resort, which charges £820 for the privilege. The hotel's website claims that the sunset ceremony is the perfect way "to mark a milestone in your amazing journey together".
Although the couple's identity was undisclosed, they were thought to have been Swiss.
The video has caused uproar in the Maldives, a nation heavily dependent on tourism, and the government ordered a police investigation. Ismail Yasir, the deputy tourism minister, said he was "very concerned".
"We have asked the resort to inform us what action they have taken," he said. "We are embarrassed and outraged. We would like to assure everyone who would like to come to the Maldives that we will take such incidents seriously and will take action."
The staff involved have been suspended. A spokesman for the Vilu Reef apologised for their "unforgivable conduct" and said: "The management of the resort is deeply saddened by this humiliating event."
Courtesy The Telegraph, UK in Maldives
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