Maldives National University (MNU) has taken action against university lecturer Ali Zaid, also a renowned Islamic scholar.

In a Twitter post after actions were taken on him, Sheikh Zaid revealed that MNU has taken “swift” action on him twice, regarding Twitter posts. Zaid revealed that he will not back down and that he only fears Allah.

The Sheikh revealed that MNU will take five actions; first comes a verbal advice followed by a counselling through writing. After this the university will issue a warning and consecutively suspend lecturers. The highest action to be taken is dismissal. Zaid did not specify the action taken against him.

MNU said that action had been taken against the lecturer in accordance with their protocols, after several issues relating to Sheikh Zaid were received.

This comes at a time Islamic scholar Dr. Mohamed Iyaz was dismissed from the position of assistant professor at the university, on July 1.

MNU revealed that he had been repeatedly warned and counseled due to his social media posts, prior to his dismissal. Dr. Iyaz came under fire for one of his recent posts, encouraging Female Genital Mutilation, and MNU revealed that they had advised him thrice round and through two written warnings.

MNU revealed that Dr. Iyaz openly posts in manners that indicates his support for extremist ideologies and he was suspended during March 2021 for expressing himself in ways that create unrest among the public.

Minister of Home Affairs, Sheikh Imran Abdulla and his Adhaalath Party have since spoken in defense of Dr. Iyaz. Minister Imran said that differences of opinion on religious matters must be resolved through peaceful dialogue and independent discussions at educational institutions. He asserted that it is unacceptable for the country’s biggest university to raise strict measures over peaceful dialogue to resolve differences. Imran urged the university to review its decision stressing that he does not believe the measures against Dr. Iyaz are justified.

A case relating to the Islamic scholar’s Tweet, posted on June 23, is currently being probed by the People’s Majlis Committee on Human Rights and Gender, after being submitted by MP for south-Galolhu constituency MP Meekail Naseem.

Dr. Iyaz came under fire after sharing the tweet with a link attached, sharing medical benefits of female circumcision in Islam. Dr. Iyaz was on the receiving end of immense public criticism for the Tweet, to which he responded that it was based on research and that such issues will not be resolved through submitting cases at Majlis and pressuring authorities to dismiss him from his position.