The arrest and detention of religious scholars is a serious concern, the President of Maldives National Party (MNP), Colonel Mohamed Nazim, has said.
Nazim was speaking out against the extension of the remand of religious scholars Sheikh Adam Nishan and Sheikh Fazloon Mohamed, who were arrested on charges of involvement in the Yoga Day clashes. On June 21, a group stormed the National Stadium while an event to mark International Yoga Day was ongoing. The event was held despite religious scholars advising against it, as yoga is considered impermissible in Islam under several fatwas. Although both scholars were present at the location, they did not incite violence or unrest. Twenty-one people, including the sheiks, were arrested, and twenty people still remain in police custody. Their remand is being extended repeatedly.
In a tweet posted on Friday, Nazim said the arrest and detention of religious scholars, including Sheikh Nishan, is a matter of great concern. He said justice should be done quickly.
Nazim's tweet tagged Home Minister Imran Abdulla and the official Twitter account of the Maldives Police Service.
Nazim also expressed concern over the arrest and extension of the remand of former Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail. Nazim said it was a great injustice for there to be delays in receiving justice, be it Mohamed Ismail or any other Maldivian citizen.
