Teenage Boy Scout a Hero in the Maldives

His mother said her son had long been pious and often listened to Islamic CDs, according to Thursday's edition of the Haveeru newspaper.

Another person who knew Murshid a former teacher who asked not to be further identified for fear of attracting attention told the AP he had in recent years become more interested in the more extreme elements of Islam and frequently watched videos made by militants in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Islam was brought to the Maldives in the 12th century by Arab traders, and a traditionally moderate brand of the religion has dominated here ever since alcohol can't be purchased outside the resorts but many women walk the streets of Male in form-fitting T-shirts and pants.

Tourism has helped make the Maldives, home to about 350,000 people, the most prosperous country in South Asia, with a per capita annual income of $2,700.

But in the last decade or so, as the Internet has brought the world to these remote islands, extreme elements schooled in Pakistan or the Middle East have made inroads. They've preached about the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and played on the divisions among Maldivians, many of whom eke our relatively modest livings in the cramped towns and villages.

"Each time people in Europe, America read about fundamentalism some of them say to themselves 'Why go to Maldives?" said Abdullah Rasheed, a 28-year-old who works at a travel agency.