Vilufushi Council: Games played in area currently used as a seminar hall at mosque

Th. Vilufushi Council states teachers were captured playing a game that is presently used as a seminal hall, adding the premises is no longer used for prayers.

The council’s remarks come after a video went viral on social media which shows a group of people playing games at a location presumed to be a mosque. Islamic Minister Dr. Shaheem Ali Saeed had earlier announced the incident was under investigation.

The viral video shows individuals of both genders participating in a game where they balance paper cups on their heads. While it is unclear which mosque the incident occurred at, some of the people seen in the video are believed to be expatriates. 

Vilufishi Council released a statement amid video public outrage over the video.

In this regard, the Council said the video was shot on October 6^th, 2024, and shows an activity held as part of Teachers Day celebrations.

As per the Council, ‘Nala Maalam’ at Vilufushi’s Nalahiya Ismail Centre is presently used for various religious and social activities at present including various competitions held at island and atoll scales.

“The place, before it was shifted to a seminar hall, was used as a prayer area for women. However, women presently pray at a partitioned area allocated for them on the upper floor of the mosque,” the statement read.

The Council noted that the carpet currently in the seminal hall had previously been used in the mosque's prayer area.

Citing the Council has always highly regarded religious matters, Vilufushi Council condemned the use of selected footage from an event held to recognize the hard work of teachers to spread misinformation by construing the reality.