The government has faced a backlash over showing scantily clad female performers at the New Year show in Male’ City.

President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim were at the show, organized by the tourism ministry and Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation (MITDC), with other top official government officials.

Many Maldivians flocked to social media to voice their outrage over the “irreligious” acts put onstage.

Some have noted that government-aligned religious scholars and politicians, who had recently criticized a Former President for defending an NGO chief over her tweet that was deemed “irreligious”, have remained silent over the New Year show.

The show, broadcasted live by the official State media, had a dance segment which showed female performers wearing tight-fitting and scantily clad outfits, which was deemed unfit for Islamic values.