Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon has said discussions are underway as intellectuals have various concerns regarding the relocation of Kalhuvakaru Mosque.
In a tweet, the heritage minister expressed gratitude for the concerns raised by the scholars regarding the relocation of the mosque, adding discussions are underway to address the concerns.
The government has decided to relocate Kalhuvakaru Mosque in the grounds where the head office of Dhiraagu was once located, which in from of the Islamic Centre. However, the religious scholars have expressed concerns as building a mosque in front of another mosque is forbidden in Islam.
Meanwhile, former Islamic Minister and Chancellor of Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has also said relocating the mosque to the area near Islamic Centre is not ideal and permissible.
The government decided to relocate the mosque after extensive discussions with the public. Kalhuvakaru Mosque once stood in the historic Sultan Park but was dismantled and removed by the previous administration to make way for a winter theme park. The action was gravely condemned by Islamic scholars and the public.
The current administration has pledged to recover and relocate the historic mosque to an ideal location in the capital, Male' City.