High Court: Order to release Sheikh Fazloon cannot be overturned

High Court has stated that the order to release Sheikh Mohamed Fazloon – one of the suspects arrested in connection with the mob attack on the Yoga Day event held in Male’ City last June – cannot be overturned.

In a ruling issued on Monday, High Court said that Criminal Court ordered the release of Sheikh Fazloon correctly. They stressed that the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) had failed to present any reason why the decision should be overturned.

The 33-year-old Islamic scholar was arrested on June 22. He was granted conditional release by the Criminal Court on July 21.

The yoga event, organized by the Indian Cultural Center and the Sports Ministry, was held on the morning of June 21, and was attended by dozens of participants, foreign ambassadors including Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar, diplomats, and government officials.

A mob of angry protestors had stormed the stadium, and threatened and assaulted some of the participants, and destroyed property.

Police arrested over 20 suspects in connection to the mob attack on the event, including another local Islamic scholar Sheikh Adam Nishan. Some suspects including both scholars and Mohamed Ismail, have since been released.