A preacher from L. Maamendhoo said he was ‘too afraid of God’ to recite the controversial Friday sermon issued by the Islamic ministry.

Mudhim Usman Abdul Samad said this in a statement given to the island council after refusing to recite the pro-government sermon on February 16 during a time of political turmoil.

In the statement, Samad said the Islamic ministry’s sermon was clearly trying to use the religion as a political weapon.

He also expressed concern that the sermons and religious advice are being politicized and being used to spread lies regarding the role of politicians in Islam.

Samad said he has been leading the Friday prayer for 10 years and giving sermons on relevant issues concerning the nation and the Islamic community. He said he sees a ruler acting beyond his measures, and not citizens disobeying their ruler.

He also said that there are no longer any honest leader, as no one is stopping the attacks against the citizens.

Samad called on the Islamic ministry to not use mosques as campaign halls.