Mal

Imams of mosques in Malé have been transferred from Councils to Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

Imams were transferred from Islamic Ministry to Councils in 2010, following the enforcement of the Decentralisation Act.

Spokesperson for Islamic Ministry told Sun Online that imams of 34 mosques are now employees of the ministry, and that this would make the process easier for the ministry, of providing training and instructions to imams.

“Our aim is to bring all groups that oversee religious activities under the ministry. Imams were transferred as part of these efforts,” he told Sun Online.

The Religious Unity Act was amended last year, to state that all mosques and prayer houses in all islands in the Maldives shall be maintained by the Islamic Ministry. The Decentralisation Act still states that mosques shall be maintained by Councils.

The Religious Unity Act states that it is the responsibility of the Islamic Ministry to monitor religious activities, and that all imams and religious leaders shall follow Sunni Islam.