Cabinet ministers briefed on latest updates of Yoga Day violence

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Tuesday, has briefed his cabinet on the finding of the cabinet subcommittee investigating the mob attack on event held on June 21 at the National Stadium to mark the International Day of Yoga.

In the meeting held at President’s Office – the cabinet deliberated on current affairs including the mob attack on the yoga event; COVID-19 pandemic and the recently announced ‘Gedhoruveriya’ and ‘Binveriya’ housing schemes.

President Solih also briefed the ministers on his recent successful visit to Kigali, Rwanada, to partake in the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022. CHOGM 2022 was the first such meeting since the Maldives’ re-accession to the alliance.

The yoga day event, organized by the Indian Cultural Center and the Sports Ministry, had begun at 06:30 am on June 21, and was attended by dozens of participants, including foreign ambassadors and diplomats.

A mob of angry protestors stormed the stadium, threatened and assaulted some of the participants, and destroyed property. They were carrying flags containing verses from the Shahada.

Police said in an earlier statement the case was being investigated as a serious matter, and that preliminary investigative findings established that some of the items used by the mob had come from the office of PPM.

A total of 21 arrests were made in connection to this case including two religious scholars.