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Destination Paradise: Among the Jihadists of the Maldives
A breathtaking work of political reportage steeped in a deep understanding of the roots of Islamic terrorism.
Western tourists are not always aware that the Maldives, a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean, is a Muslim country, or that the Republic of Maldives is the non-Arab country with the world's highest number of foreign fighters per capita. Despite being considered a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives is in fact one of the most over-populated countries, devastated by poverty, social segregation, heroin, and criminality. Tourists living in one tiny bright enclave, the people in the vast darkness. All the wealth coming from tourism is concentrated in the hands of a few businessmen who collude with the despotic government. The Maldives is a fertile breeding ground for ISIS, which enlists more of its foreign fighters per capita from there than anywhere else. Francesca Borri spent time with them, and with their families and friends, all of whom are drivers, waiters, cleaners in tourist resorts. And she let them speak.
As she writes, "While the rest of the world watched the Olympics, everyone here was watching the battle of Aleppo. And rooting for al-Qaeda."
Western tourists are not always aware that the Maldives, a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean, is a Muslim country, or that the Republic of Maldives is the non-Arab country with the world's highest number of foreign fighters per capita. Despite being considered a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives is in fact one of the most over-populated countries, devastated by poverty, social segregation, heroin, and criminality. Tourists living in one tiny bright enclave, the people in the vast darkness. All the wealth coming from tourism is concentrated in the hands of a few businessmen who collude with the despotic government. The Maldives is a fertile breeding ground for ISIS, which enlists more of its foreign fighters per capita from there than anywhere else. Francesca Borri spent time with them, and with their families and friends, all of whom are drivers, waiters, cleaners in tourist resorts. And she let them speak.
As she writes, "While the rest of the world watched the Olympics, everyone here was watching the battle of Aleppo. And rooting for al-Qaeda."
- GenresFantasy
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2017
5 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Francesca Borri
8 books25 followersFrancesca Borri (1980), studi in relazioni internazionali, dopo una prima esperienza nei Balcani ha lavorato in Medio Oriente, e in particolare in Israele e Palestina, come specialista di diritti umani. Nel 2012 ha deciso di raccontare la battaglia di Aleppo come giornalista freelance, e da allora, i suoi reportage sono stati tradotti in 21 lingue. Cinque anni e 500.000 morti dopo, vive ancora tra Siria e Iraq, e nei momenti di tregua, racconta i palestinesi per «Yedioth Ahronoth», il principale quotidiano israeliano.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 2, 2019
If you blindfold yourself, switch off the lights and start shooting with a shotgun, you are going to hit the target more or less. This book is pretty much that. Basically hits and misses on the actual issue. The author presents the book with her preconceived inherent racist notions without an actual understanding of the underlying intricacies of the Maldives. Thereby, basically reducing the a whole nation and its culture to fit into her orietalistic views (as cultureless, heritageless, backward underdeveloped nation), with major factual inaccuracies and misrepresentation of the Maldives and its people. She goes on to quote various people who are either dead (for which people can't verify) and some people quoted in the book have come forward informing how they had not given consent to quote them in a book or article, and that the author had made up quotes to fit her narrative.
With lines like "..watched the Battle of Aleppa and cheered for Al-Qaeda while the rest of the world watched Olympic", the author paints the whole Maldives Islamic radicals. She continues to emphasize throughout the book that the Maldivians watch only ISIS fighters in Syria and nothing else. We, as Maldivians would like to ask the Author what is this WAR Channel she keeps talking of? I, for one have not seen it nor follow it.
Just like any country, the Maldives have its fair share of problems, ranging from inequality, narcotics addiction, human trafficking, state level corruption and yes extremism. There is no denying, radicalization is an issue in the Maldives, but it is a minority and much investigation needs to be done. The author could have done actual investigation and presented a better book. She did focus on the issue of foreign workers being trafficked, which sadly, is probably the only truth in this book. Unfortunately, with so much inaccuracies and exaggeration it is hard to accept any truths she had tried to explore.
Perhaps, the essence of the book might have been lost in translation; however it still doesn't justify all the factual inaccuracies within the book. I can't imagine how a publisher have green lighted this book without a basic check, which one can do over the internet in this day and age.
As a Maldivian, knowing the ground reality, I can't accept the book as is and wonder about her agenda behind this book. There had been allegations about Borris' exaggeration and blatant lies from her previous books and articles. Perhaps the intention was to sensationalize and make a quick buck. The Author, Francesca Borri should apologize to the Maldivians, for defamation and misrepresenting Maldivians as jihadists and jihadi apologists. And I hope she finds the Non-existent Maldivian Traditional Hat she claims that only she know about.
This book should be classified as FICTION.
With lines like "..watched the Battle of Aleppa and cheered for Al-Qaeda while the rest of the world watched Olympic", the author paints the whole Maldives Islamic radicals. She continues to emphasize throughout the book that the Maldivians watch only ISIS fighters in Syria and nothing else. We, as Maldivians would like to ask the Author what is this WAR Channel she keeps talking of? I, for one have not seen it nor follow it.
Just like any country, the Maldives have its fair share of problems, ranging from inequality, narcotics addiction, human trafficking, state level corruption and yes extremism. There is no denying, radicalization is an issue in the Maldives, but it is a minority and much investigation needs to be done. The author could have done actual investigation and presented a better book. She did focus on the issue of foreign workers being trafficked, which sadly, is probably the only truth in this book. Unfortunately, with so much inaccuracies and exaggeration it is hard to accept any truths she had tried to explore.
Perhaps, the essence of the book might have been lost in translation; however it still doesn't justify all the factual inaccuracies within the book. I can't imagine how a publisher have green lighted this book without a basic check, which one can do over the internet in this day and age.
As a Maldivian, knowing the ground reality, I can't accept the book as is and wonder about her agenda behind this book. There had been allegations about Borris' exaggeration and blatant lies from her previous books and articles. Perhaps the intention was to sensationalize and make a quick buck. The Author, Francesca Borri should apologize to the Maldivians, for defamation and misrepresenting Maldivians as jihadists and jihadi apologists. And I hope she finds the Non-existent Maldivian Traditional Hat she claims that only she know about.
This book should be classified as FICTION.
April 4, 2019
I had read multiple excerpts of this book while it was peak twitter momentum and it was all ridiculous but I wanted to fully read it before my judgement because those parts could be taken out of context. Reading this was not easy because here's a writer who comes to my country with an already prejudiced mind about what she wants to find there (most of the story revolves on her finding a traditional palm hat?!? [we don't have a specific traditional palm hat]) and makes no effort to really get to know the culture and only relies on her guide from Lonely Planet. Her writing is at best to the standards of a 10th grade mazumoonu where there's a word limit so you have to keep repeating the same things again and again.
She travels to Male', Maafushi, Himandhoo and Thilafushi in search of Jihadists of Maldives and everyone she encounters seems to be only talking about Syria. Every house she goes, Syria is on TV and random people stop her on the street to a)give her a Quran and ask for advice on Syria b)ask for her autograph and ask for advice on Syria c) tell her to go to another restaurent ask for advice on Syria and d) to finally give her a damn palm hat which she later says is something she saw maybe in Guatemala or Honduras.
She is very insensitive to the people she meets writes them in a way to make it seem like they're all ganging up on her. The only good parts of the book were when it was all in the words of her interviewees. They make valid points about our struggles which she boils down to just Syria. I tried so hard to keep an open mind but when a writer makes bare minimum effort to truly know a culture before writing that there are fruits that look like batteries, that's when you know this was just a sensational title with not much substance. Yes, Jihadis are an issue we face but this book fails to really address the issue.
I really hope she isn't doing this to other countries she goes to, sigh.
She travels to Male', Maafushi, Himandhoo and Thilafushi in search of Jihadists of Maldives and everyone she encounters seems to be only talking about Syria. Every house she goes, Syria is on TV and random people stop her on the street to a)give her a Quran and ask for advice on Syria b)ask for her autograph and ask for advice on Syria c) tell her to go to another restaurent ask for advice on Syria and d) to finally give her a damn palm hat which she later says is something she saw maybe in Guatemala or Honduras.
She is very insensitive to the people she meets writes them in a way to make it seem like they're all ganging up on her. The only good parts of the book were when it was all in the words of her interviewees. They make valid points about our struggles which she boils down to just Syria. I tried so hard to keep an open mind but when a writer makes bare minimum effort to truly know a culture before writing that there are fruits that look like batteries, that's when you know this was just a sensational title with not much substance. Yes, Jihadis are an issue we face but this book fails to really address the issue.
I really hope she isn't doing this to other countries she goes to, sigh.
February 2, 2019
This isn’t a book worth reading. And certainly not a book worth your time and money. Why?
The book is factually inaccurate as if it is a work of fiction written by an arrogant writer. Francesca Borri butchers the culture and lifestyle of Maldivians in this book. As someone is who’s lived in the Maldives for the past 20 years, it’s safe to say that the information in this book, specifically highlighting Maldivian’s and their culture and their views on extremism is exaggerated beyond the line. 99% of this book could be described as fiction, the few bits and pieces about victims who lost their lives to the hands of murderers in the only acceptable fact I could find from this book.
As for you, the prominent buyer/reader, this book will defy everything Maldivians are and what we stand for. It’d be better to spend money on a nice vacation to the beautiful Republic of Maldives, where you can still enjoy the culture and local cuisine, which Borri describes as nonexistent. And don’t worry, we have many phone stores and repair shops, that if anything were to happen to your iPhone, it would be repaired or even replaced with the latest one. And don’t worry, we also have 4G across the nation, so you can download all of your backup files from the cloud to your new personal device while enjoying some local cuisine.
No need to buy fiction when you can experience a more rewarding and fulfilling reality in The Maldives!
The book is factually inaccurate as if it is a work of fiction written by an arrogant writer. Francesca Borri butchers the culture and lifestyle of Maldivians in this book. As someone is who’s lived in the Maldives for the past 20 years, it’s safe to say that the information in this book, specifically highlighting Maldivian’s and their culture and their views on extremism is exaggerated beyond the line. 99% of this book could be described as fiction, the few bits and pieces about victims who lost their lives to the hands of murderers in the only acceptable fact I could find from this book.
As for you, the prominent buyer/reader, this book will defy everything Maldivians are and what we stand for. It’d be better to spend money on a nice vacation to the beautiful Republic of Maldives, where you can still enjoy the culture and local cuisine, which Borri describes as nonexistent. And don’t worry, we have many phone stores and repair shops, that if anything were to happen to your iPhone, it would be repaired or even replaced with the latest one. And don’t worry, we also have 4G across the nation, so you can download all of your backup files from the cloud to your new personal device while enjoying some local cuisine.
No need to buy fiction when you can experience a more rewarding and fulfilling reality in The Maldives!
July 26, 2019
Why so many 1 star reviews here for this fantastic read? I wondered that too, especially after my 5 star read.
Though if you have read this book it's pretty obvious Ms. Borri has written what the Maldivian government didn't want us to know.
I got curious and checked the 1 star reviewers. Many of them either only have one book reviewed (= this book), all Borri books marked with 1 star but pretty much nothing else, or zero friends. Clearly looks like a smear campaign to me.
What I can say is, this is a fascinating read. I have never been to the Maldives or have any plan of going there, but it was still extremely interesting to read. Also makes me think of our responsibility as global travelers, even if we don't visit the Maldives.
PS: Just to be clear, I have no affiliations with the country, or with Ms. Borri. I liked her previous book Syrian Dust: Reporting from the Heart of the War which made me curious to read more. And it didn't disappoint.
Please, more people should read this, learn about the world we live in and defeat the smear campaign against a journalist who is just doing her job.
Though if you have read this book it's pretty obvious Ms. Borri has written what the Maldivian government didn't want us to know.
I got curious and checked the 1 star reviewers. Many of them either only have one book reviewed (= this book), all Borri books marked with 1 star but pretty much nothing else, or zero friends. Clearly looks like a smear campaign to me.
What I can say is, this is a fascinating read. I have never been to the Maldives or have any plan of going there, but it was still extremely interesting to read. Also makes me think of our responsibility as global travelers, even if we don't visit the Maldives.
PS: Just to be clear, I have no affiliations with the country, or with Ms. Borri. I liked her previous book Syrian Dust: Reporting from the Heart of the War which made me curious to read more. And it didn't disappoint.
Please, more people should read this, learn about the world we live in and defeat the smear campaign against a journalist who is just doing her job.
February 4, 2019
The author of this book is a pure racist.
This rubbish book full of factual inaccuracies wants to paint the entire Maldives and its people as a bunch of technologically backward bunch who have nothing better than to worship ISIS all day everyday.
Highly doubt the author has even set foot in Maldives.
This rubbish book full of factual inaccuracies wants to paint the entire Maldives and its people as a bunch of technologically backward bunch who have nothing better than to worship ISIS all day everyday.
Highly doubt the author has even set foot in Maldives.
September 19, 2025
Francesca padroneggia più che bene i ferri del mestiere. Sa come raccontare e si percepisce la tecnica sopraffina che, specie in partenza, assume troppe volte i contorni del manierismo, ma è comunque efficace e la lettura scorre veloce di queste pagine che hanno bisogno di una decrittazione mirata. Più che un libro o un reportage è la narrazione di uno sconforto, almeno questa è la prima cosa che mi è saltata in mente durante la lettura. Potremmo discutere di politiche ambientali, di integrazione, di aiuti umanitari, di scelte distensive, ma quello che resta è il retrogusto di assoluta incomunicabilità tra due mondi che, alla fine, non solo non si sopportano, ma si odiano così visceralmente da voler evitare a tutti i costi anche un pur minimo dialogo.
In compenso Francesca sa prenderti per un orecchio, trasportarti nella merda del quotidiano e sa come diavolo si disegna un presente che è un incubo, sbattendoti in faccia la realtà: che siamo tutti schiavi, gli uni degli altri, ma alcuni sono molto più schiavi di tutti gli altri messi assieme. Chiuso il volume non resta che un’indemoniata incazzatura, senza un preciso bersaglio, che ti lascia nello sconforto (appunto) assoluto e nella consapevolezza che la situazione non potrà che peggiorare.
Tanto per combinare qualcosa esco e resto a guardare uno sfacciato tramonto arrossato dall’inquinamento che ormai staziona pure in questo paesino sperduto in riva alla provincia e mi chiedo cosa cazzo potremmo fare. In fondo è a questo che dovrebbe servire il buon giornalismo: infilzare quelle maledette, sudicie dita nella piaga virulenta e inchiodarti alla realtà di una mefitica esistenza, scuoterti dal tuo fottuto torpore e deciderti a rimboccarti le maniche per cambiare il mondo.
Un gatto poco lontano mi guarda e se ne sparisce in un giardino. Osservo il traffico maleodorante. Un camioncino di almeno 40 anni annaspa alla ricerca di un parcheggio. Uno scooter smarmittato mi sfiora gracchiando un insopportabile brontolio. Sputo in terra più volte e mi incammino, neppure io so bene verso cosa o chi.
NdC: posso solo aggiungere, sfoggiando il miglior petto villoso&orgoglioso con tanto di beffardo quanto soddisfatto ghigno malefico, che le Maldive non sono mai state nei miei sogni aviotrasportati. Anzi, le ho sistematicamente disegnate come sfigata meta da esibizionisti da palma plastificata e noce di cocco D.O.P subdolamente offerta dalla locale Proloco, tiè.
In compenso Francesca sa prenderti per un orecchio, trasportarti nella merda del quotidiano e sa come diavolo si disegna un presente che è un incubo, sbattendoti in faccia la realtà: che siamo tutti schiavi, gli uni degli altri, ma alcuni sono molto più schiavi di tutti gli altri messi assieme. Chiuso il volume non resta che un’indemoniata incazzatura, senza un preciso bersaglio, che ti lascia nello sconforto (appunto) assoluto e nella consapevolezza che la situazione non potrà che peggiorare.
Tanto per combinare qualcosa esco e resto a guardare uno sfacciato tramonto arrossato dall’inquinamento che ormai staziona pure in questo paesino sperduto in riva alla provincia e mi chiedo cosa cazzo potremmo fare. In fondo è a questo che dovrebbe servire il buon giornalismo: infilzare quelle maledette, sudicie dita nella piaga virulenta e inchiodarti alla realtà di una mefitica esistenza, scuoterti dal tuo fottuto torpore e deciderti a rimboccarti le maniche per cambiare il mondo.
Un gatto poco lontano mi guarda e se ne sparisce in un giardino. Osservo il traffico maleodorante. Un camioncino di almeno 40 anni annaspa alla ricerca di un parcheggio. Uno scooter smarmittato mi sfiora gracchiando un insopportabile brontolio. Sputo in terra più volte e mi incammino, neppure io so bene verso cosa o chi.
NdC: posso solo aggiungere, sfoggiando il miglior petto villoso&orgoglioso con tanto di beffardo quanto soddisfatto ghigno malefico, che le Maldive non sono mai state nei miei sogni aviotrasportati. Anzi, le ho sistematicamente disegnate come sfigata meta da esibizionisti da palma plastificata e noce di cocco D.O.P subdolamente offerta dalla locale Proloco, tiè.
August 29, 2017
Povertà, disuguaglianza, assenza di prospettive di vita e, sorprendetemente, il turismo che anziché essere la risorsa che ci aspetteremmo (o che ci piacerebbe che fosse, per tacitare la nostra coscienza) altro non è se non un ulteriore forma di prevaricazione esercitata da un Occidente che detiene, da solo, la quasi totalità della ricchezza mondiale... Uno squarcio su questo e altro, un libro che tenta di spiegare perché arruolarsi nella jihad sia soltanto uno dei tanti modi per dare un senso a una vita che in questi paradisi (solo "nostri" evidentemente) sembra non averne.
"I turisti hanno a disposizione intere isole, e noi non abbiamo mezzo metro quadrato di silenzio per concentrarci su un libro. Poi ogni tanto ti sbarcano in ciabatte davanti casa e fotografano la tua miseria chiamandola folklore [...] Che alternativa abbiamo? Tutto è meglio di questa vita. Se puoi permettertelo, ti paghi l'università all'estero. Altrimenti vai in Siria".
Un libro che lotta contro alcuni dei più rassicuranti luoghi comuni radicati in Occidente, primo fra tutti quello secondo il quale Maldive e Siria sarebbero due universi agli antipodi...
"I turisti hanno a disposizione intere isole, e noi non abbiamo mezzo metro quadrato di silenzio per concentrarci su un libro. Poi ogni tanto ti sbarcano in ciabatte davanti casa e fotografano la tua miseria chiamandola folklore [...] Che alternativa abbiamo? Tutto è meglio di questa vita. Se puoi permettertelo, ti paghi l'università all'estero. Altrimenti vai in Siria".
Un libro che lotta contro alcuni dei più rassicuranti luoghi comuni radicati in Occidente, primo fra tutti quello secondo il quale Maldive e Siria sarebbero due universi agli antipodi...
June 7, 2017
Le Maldive si rivelano il posto perfetto per parlare di jiahidisti e degli equilibri su cui si regge il mondo. Bisognerebbe avere l'ardire di vedere quando si guarda, o forse solo il desiderio di frequentare posti e persone che abbiano davvero qualcosa da mostrare e da dire! E Francesca non solo ha questo coraggio, ma ha anche un indubbio talento nello scrivere quello che vede, quello che pensa, quello che sente. Inoltre è molto brava a trovarsi i collaboratori giusti. Scrive e mette il lettore giusto di fronte agli argomenti che importano, che interessano la vita di tutti, incastra le tessere del puzzle e costruisce il mosaico, il quadro che aiuta a capire, o perlomeno ad interpretare, a vedere in prospettiva, a vedere l'insieme. Così diventa quasi scontato che chi legge, in modo quasi inconsapevole, cominci a cercarsi un posto in questa rappresentazione, a farsi delle domande, o semplicemente a mettersi a nudo per trovare la tessera con cui incastrarsi in modo quasi necessario in questo insieme.
May 29, 2021
Non ho mai avuto né il mito né il sogno di una vacanza alle Maldive per cui non posso dire che questa lettura mi abbia in qualche modo "cambiato".
Sicuramente mi ha reso consapevole di una realtà sconosciuta a me - probabilmente ai più - e che non saprei definire in modo diverso da "agghiacciante".
Un plauso all'autrice, il cui stile è chiaro, acuto ed equilibrato. Non cerca pietà né sensazionalismi. Ciò che illustra è più che sufficiente.
Sicuramente mi ha reso consapevole di una realtà sconosciuta a me - probabilmente ai più - e che non saprei definire in modo diverso da "agghiacciante".
Un plauso all'autrice, il cui stile è chiaro, acuto ed equilibrato. Non cerca pietà né sensazionalismi. Ciò che illustra è più che sufficiente.
January 9, 2024
Entre o relato de viagem e a pesquisa jornalística, serve como uma introdução aos problemas nas Maldivas, inicialmente visto apenas como um paraíso idílico, mas que lida com questões como desigualdade, pobreza e autoritarismo.
As criticas, contudo, são válidas: existe uma exotização da pobreza e da realidade local, característico do jornalismo de regiões pobres e em guerra - quando contado de fora e que gera momentos de vergonha alheia
As criticas, contudo, são válidas: existe uma exotização da pobreza e da realidade local, característico do jornalismo de regiões pobres e em guerra - quando contado de fora e que gera momentos de vergonha alheia
June 21, 2017
Penso che sia un ottimo reportage. La Borri consegna al lettore tutte le problematiche delle Maldive causate da un Islam ormai fuori controllo e lontano dall'essere una religione. I principi islamici degli abitanti delle Maldive hanno solo prodotto un notevole numero di jihadisti che sognano un futuro di combattimenti in Siria per riscattare la propria vita di stenti. Un saggio da leggere.
February 5, 2019
Im a Maldivian. Spent 23 yrs of my life in Male' city. What she wrote in this book is news to me. The amount of exaggeration and shameless lies is baffling. I dont know whether to laugh or be mad to be honest.
PS. Does anyone know what she was high on when she wrote this book? Asking for a friend.
PS. Does anyone know what she was high on when she wrote this book? Asking for a friend.
February 5, 2019
Im a Maldivian. Spent 23 yrs of my life in Male' city. What she wrote in this book is news to me. The amount of exaggeration and shameless lies is baffling. I dont know whether to laugh or be mad to be honest.
PS. Does anyone know what she was high on when she wrote this book? Asking for a friend.
PS. Does anyone know what she was high on when she wrote this book? Asking for a friend.
April 2, 2020
An absolute insult to Maldivians without an ounce true journalistic integrity
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews