Malé, Maldives – Opposition party PPM has condemned the attack on the event held to celebrate the International yoga day while photos circulate of parliamentarian Mohamed Ismail of Hoarafushi constituency carrying similar flags out of the party office.
Speaking to local news “Adhadhu” Secretary General Mohamed Tholal stated that the political party has a tradition of providing paraphernalia to the public in times of need. However, he condemned today’s attack and did not confirm whether the party provided the flags used today to storm the Yoga Day event.
Protestors stormed the event held jointly by the Ministry of Youth and Indian High Commission’s Cultural Centre at the National Stadium, swinging flags printed with Islamic Shahada on a white canvass. In a video widely circulated from the event, participants are seen fleeing from the scene while angry protestors destroyed property and threatened participants.
Reports suggest that the event was attended by top government officials, Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives and UN diplomats.
Some protest paraphernilia originated from the PPM office.
Maldives Police Service
While the Serious and Organized Crime department of the police is investigating the attack, probing the possibility of political machinations, the public is raising alarms since the police failed to stop the attack planned last night using social media hashtags #StandAgainstYOGA and #No2YOGA.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has pledged to hold the perpetrators responsible.
