Following the Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ launch of an investigation yesterday, the Thaa Vilufushi Council has clarified that sporting activities were not conducted in a prayer area, but rather in a repurposed community space.

Responding to the viral social media video that prompted the Ministry's inquiry, the Council issued a press release addressing footage that showed men and women participating in team-building activities in what appeared to be a mosque. They stated that the video has been deliberately manipulated to discredit the Government, Council and Vilufushi School.

The clarification comes after Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed announced via X that the Ministry would address the matter under the Religious Unity Act. While the Ministry cited concerns about inappropriate conduct in a mosque, the Council maintains that the space in question is no longer used for prayers.

The Council explained that the footage was from a team-building exercise during the 2024 Teachers' Day celebrations, with the circulating version having been edited to include music. The 'Nala Maalam' within the Nalahiya Islamic Centre now serves as a multipurpose venue for both religious and social activities, hosting various island and atoll-level events.

While the space was formerly used as the women's prayer area, it has since been converted into a seminar hall, with women now conducting prayers in a dedicated area on the mosque's upper floor. The Council noted that although the current carpet in Nala Maalam was previously used in the mosque's prayer section, the space itself has been redesignated.

Emphasising their compliance with religious regulations, the Vilufushi Council stated they operate under the guidance of religious scholars and prioritise religious considerations in their decision-making. The Council affirmed their commitment to preserving the mosque's sanctity, pledging neither to commit nor encourage any acts that might compromise its sacred status.