Former President Mohamed Nasheed has denied accusations that he encourages premarital sex.
Speaking at a primary campaign event on Wednesday, Nasheed had stated that the solution to children born out of wedlock is for women to have access to hysterectomies to prevent pregnancy. Nasheed's comments had prompted outrage from local religious scholars and the public.
In a tweet on Friday, Nasheed said that he does not in any way encourage premarital sex, and clarified that he had attempted to stress on the negative impacts of the society on children born out of marriage, including hard drugs and trauma. Nasheed apologized for any misinterpretations that may have resulted from his statement.
Nasheed has received backlash over comments that do not line up with Islamic teachings in the past.
Former President, Mohamed Nasheed speaking at a campaign event
