The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has pledged to submit a comprehensive report to authorities seeking action against those responsible for vandalising Masjid al-Furqan in Male’ City. This commitment follows an incident in which a man entered the mosque during the early hours of Sunday, reportedly desecrating the mushafs (copies of the Quran) and damaging mosque property.

In a social media post on X, addressing the incident, Minister Dr Shaheem emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, that the issue of vandalism against the mosque will not be taken lightly. The matter has drawn widespread attention, with images circulating online showing the accused engaging in acts of desecration, including insulting and discarding mushafs, damaging electric sockets, and other facilities in the mosque.

The Maldives Police Service has confirmed that the suspect was apprehended and presented to a local court. The court has remanded him to judicial custody pending the completion of the investigation.

This act of vandalism has sparked public outrage, with calls for stricter measures to protect places of worship. Dr Shaheem's decision aims to resolve the issue effectively and safeguard against similar incidents occurring in the future.