Charges requested against man who urinated inside mosques and in front of President’s Office

Maldives Police Service has requested the Prosecutor General’s Office to file charges against the man who had urinated inside the Islamic Centre and Friday Mosque in addition to front of the President’s Office.

Police arrested Hassan Ziyad, 40, M. Shady Home, Male’ City on October 4 – in connection to the case.

Police said that they requested the Prosecutor General’s Office to file charges against Ziyad last Sunday.

When presented before the Criminal Court for his remand hearing on October 13 – Ziyad was remanded in police custody for 10 days.

Following the conclusion of the investigation into the case – Ziyad was released from custody this Monday; a day after charges were requested against him.

Prior to this, the Police have stressed that Ziyad suffers from a disability. They also noted that it would be probed whether Ziyad suffered from any other mental illnesses.

Ziyad had urinated inside the Masjid al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu al- Auzam (Islamic Center) in Male’ City during Magrib prayer on October 3. On the same day – he also urinated inside the Friday Mosque and in front of the President’s Office.

Several incidents involving contempt of mosques have been reported to the police this year. This includes an incident in which a man took off his clothes and entered the Islamic Center back in January. Police had stated that the man suffered from a mental disability.

Male' City had also faced a rise in drug abuse inside mosques during a partial lockdown back in June.