It is concerning to see ruling party’s deputy leader teaching religion, says religious conservative Adhaalath Party’s only representative in parliament, Anara Naeem.

She said this in a tweet sent out in Dhivehi on Wednesday, following MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla’s warning that any vote against President Abdulla Yameen in September’s presidential election “is against Islam and Maldives’ independence”.

He said this while speaking in Mulaku island of Meemu atoll, while accompanying the President on an official tour of the atoll. Abdulla also said that those who want Maldives to remain as a Muslim nation must vote for the incumbent President.

After seeing Anara’s tweet, MP Abdulla responded that he is ‘saddened’ to see her teaming with those that ‘mock’ Islam and ‘are working to introduce other religions to the country’.

In addition, Abdulla also made a quip regarding Anara and other opposition lawmakers continuing to boycott parliament sittings, asking whether she became a representative of the people ‘to take the money without doing the work’.

Anara then called out on ruling party parliamentarians of looking out for their own well-being, accusing them of ‘making laws that deprive the people of their rights’.

Opposition lawmakers continue to boycott parliament sittings citing displeasure over proceedings, especially under Speaker Abdulla Maseeh; a number of no-confidence motions have been submitted against him.