Religious scholar Dr. Mohamed Iyaaz Abdul Latheef has said President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih did not heed the sincere advice of the scholars on the issue of yoga, and the consequences that followed have been very bitter.
Iyaaz is one of the scholars who advocate most in defense of the President. He has been noted as a scholar who praises the government when it faces criticism on several issues.
A group of youths stormed the stadium on Tuesday to protest against an International Yoga Day event held at the venue. A lot of unrest has been ignited in the country following the incident. The event was held amid scholars saying that yoga is a form of worship practiced by Indians and that it is an act of polytheism.
Expressing concern over the government giving the opportunity to hold the event, Iyaaz said the President did not hear the sincere advice of the scholars on the issue of yoga and that its consequences were very bitter. However, he also praised the President in the same tweet he posted criticizing the President. He said the President encourages discussions and listens to the advice of experienced people. However, he did not accept the advice given on the issue of yoga.
"Many things have happened that no one wants to see and hear. The hope is that in the future, [the government] would heed the advice given by religious scholars. Scholars do not advise worldly gain," he said.
