Ministry of Islamic Affairs has condemned the actions taken by the group of protesters that had disrupted the International Yoga Day event held at the National Stadium.
In a press release, the Islamic ministry stated that shameful acts were committed in the name of preventing wrongdoing and supporting Islam and that the incident goes against the teachings of Islam by calling for violence and creating fear in the public. The ministry noted that some individuals are manipulating people by using their religious devotion to create hatred and resentment, and urged the public to not listen to those who use the name of Islam to create disorder for political purposes. It also advised religious scholars and institutions to be vigilant of such actions and to foster closer bonds with citizens to promote peace.
The International Yoga Day event was held on June 21 at the National Stadium by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment and the Indian High Commission in the Maldives. Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof, Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Munu Mahawar, and foreign diplomats attended the event. Several individuals had gathered nearby to protest the event and later broke through the police barricades and entered the stadium. The protesters damaged some items in the area and witnesses said some participants were attacked.
International Yoga Day has been celebrated in the Maldives every year since 2014. However, no such activities have been obstructed before. Minister Mahloof described the incident as a deliberate act with a political purpose.