Moslem protesters in Maldives disrupt International Day of Yoga event

Robert Besser
26 Jun 2022, 21:42 GMT+10

Police used tear gas and pepper spray this week to control a crowd who disrupted a yoga event organized by the Indian High Commission in Male
The protesters brandished placards claiming that yoga went against the tenets of Islam, which is the state religion in the Maldives
Superintendent of Police Fathmath Nashwa told Reuters that the police responded with anti-riot measures, including using pepper spray and tear gas to control the crowd

MALDIVES, Male: Police used tear gas and pepper spray this week to control a crowd who disrupted a yoga event organized by the Indian High Commission in Male, the capital of the Maldives.

An organizer, who did not want to be named, told Reuters that the crowd stormed the stadium, in which more than 150 people, including diplomats and government officials, were celebrating International Day of Yoga, and attacked participants and vandalized property.

The protesters brandished placards claiming that yoga went against the tenets of Islam, which is the state religion in the Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of some half million.

Superintendent of Police Fathmath Nashwa told Reuters that the police responded with anti-riot measures, including using pepper spray and tear gas to control the crowd.

Nashwa added that six people were arrested in connection with the incident.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said a police investigation into the incident has begun, writing on Twitter, "This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law," Solih said.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to North Korea Times.

More Information

74 ℉

Fair in Statesville

International

Section

After removing Columbus statue, Philadelphia sued for return

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and members of the city's historical commission have been sued by a group which ...

Area evacuated as wildfire burns thru Michigan

LANSING, Michigan: Michigan's Department of Natural Resources said by a wildfire in the state has burned through more than 3 ...

Official: airlines industry acting to prevent cancellations

ISTANBUL, Turkey: In an interview with Reuters, Willie Walsh, director-general of the International Air Transport Association, (IATA), said airlines are ...

Protesting Texans send migrants to California

SACRAMENTO, California: Sixteen migrants from Venezuela and Colombia, who had entered the United States through Texas, were transported to California ...

Louisiana park reopens 2 years after being flattened by hurricane

GRAND ISLE STATE PARK, Louisiana: Almost two years after Hurricane Ida struck the barrier island and destroyed most of its ...

Five receive death sentence for allegedly killing six police officers two years ago

YANGON, Myanmar - A regime court sentenced to death five people detained for their alleged involvement in a deadly August ...

Business

Section