Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, on May 14 said that Maldivians who participate in the civil wars of other countries cannot be considered 'jihadists', reports The Edition. Speaking about ‘Islam and Jihad’ at the Maumoon Foundation’s Ihya Programme at which Vice President Faisal Naseem and several Ministers were present, the former president stated that ‘jihad’ means defending one’s country and religion while in one’s own country, and therefore Maldivians battling in other countries cannot be considered as such.