A suspect has been arrested for allegedly being the main person involved in plotting to cause unrest at the event held at Galolhu Stadium to mark International Yoga Day.
On June 21, the Youth Ministry and the Indian Embassy in the Maldives jointly organized an event to celebrate Yoga Day at the stadium. The event was held despite religious scholars advising against it, as yoga is considered impermissible by the majority of scholars. While the event was ongoing, a group stormed the stadium and caused unrest at the venue.
AVAS has learned that a local man named Mohamed Faisal has been arrested for planning and organizing the unrest. Although he was arrested on Wednesday, the police have not made a comment on his arrest thus far.
Many people were arrested in connection with the Yoga Day unrest, but some have now been released. Those remaining in custody include former Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail and religious scholar Sheikh Adam Nishan.
The opposition has called on the government to release all those arrested on charges of inciting riots as they are not involved in encouraging riots.
