On June 21, Islamist extremists disrupted Yoga Day celebrations in the Maldives. Videos of the incident emerged on social media platforms where Islamists could be seen entering the Galolhu stadium where people were doing Yoga on eight International Yoga Day. They uprooted the flags in the stadium and used them to attack the participants of the celebrations.
Dramatic visuals from Maldives as group of extremists disrupt Yoga Day celebrations organised in capital Male pic.twitter.com/es9q3y5g2o
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 21, 2022
Another video posted by Raajje TV showed how the Islamists destroyed the venue and thrashed food stalls meant for the participants.
— RaajjeTV (@Raajje_tv) June 21, 2022
As per reports, the event was organized by the Indian Mission in the Maldives in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Development. Diplomats, government officials and Maldives ministers were present at the event when the Islamist extremists barged into the stadium.
On Tuesday morning, an enraged mob stormed the Maldives National Football Stadium, disrupting an ongoing yoga and meditation session.
— BNN 🇲🇻 Newsroom (@medrivaMV) June 21, 2022
The Indian Cultural Center organized the yoga and meditation hour in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment.
The event that started at 6:30 AM was stopped after the Islamists barged in. Police had to use tear gas shells to disperse the agitated Islamist extremists to ensure the situation did not turn into a physical altercation.
Meanwhile, some attendees said they were threatened by mob members.
— BNN 🇲🇻 Newsroom (@medrivaMV) June 21, 2022
Police used tear gas cannisters to disperse the horde of angry protesters before the situation escalated into a physical altercation.
Maldives President said probe initiated
After the incident, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a statement and said an investigation had been launched into the incident that had happened at the Galolhu Stadium.
An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium.
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) June 21, 2022
This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law.
He said, “An investigation has been launched by Maldives Police into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium. This is being treated as a matter of serious concern, and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law.”
