Claim that prayer was performed in a “jihadi spirit” is saddening: Sheikh Imran

President of the opposition Adhaalath Party, Sheikh Imran Abdullah has said that the claim that the participants of the 23 December “Maldivians in Defence of Islam” mass demonstration are Taliban and that they performed their prayer during the demonstration in “jihadi spirit” is absurd and saddening.

Sheikh Imran said that the people differ in their level of faith and also differ in their view. However, all of the participants, regardless of their differences, gathered at the Tsunami Monument area later known as the Victory Square united upon one intention. He said that they gathered to protect the Islamic Unity of Maldives and reject the establishment of other religions.

Sheikh Imran said that the people performed the Maghrib and Isha prayer at the Victory Square because it is not permissible to delay any of the daily prayers from their prescribed time. He said that the participants were Muslim and it is not something odd or strange that they performed their prayers.

In view of the recent remark of the President implying that it was extremism that the protestors made their ritual ablution from the sea and performed their prayers, Sheikh Imran said that it is a matter of deep concern that the President made such a bizarre remark.

Furthermore, the Sheikh said that the President exposed himself and lowered his own status among the people by this absurd statement.