Locally prominent religious scholar Sheikh Ali Zahir has also expressed concern over the use of statues in an art gallery at a local resort.

While he did explicitly name the gallery or the resort, Sheikh Zahir said that Maldivians must refrain from any conduct that may lead to idol worship.

A post on his Twitter account expressing these sentiments translates to, ‘As we have been saved from sacrilegious acts such as idol worship, we must now ensure that we are free of any conduct that may lead to such actions again. Being free of such actions is one of the most important aspects of Islam’.

Sheikh Zahir is not alone, Adhaalath Party member and prominent preacher, Sheikh Ilyas Hussain has also expressed concern over the statues, adding that such ‘wrongful conduct’ is an attempt to mislead the public.

Sheikh Ilyas said this through a post on his Twitter account, which translates to, ‘carrying out such wrongful actions so blatantly and openly is an attempt to mislead the public and is a transgression to their rights and of Islamic principles. I call to respect these principles and to fear Allah, there is the hereafter’.

While Sheikh Ilyas has expressed concern over the matter, Sheikh Ali Zaidh expressed utter discontent. In a post on Twitter earlier, the sheikh said that the use of statues in Maldivian territory is unacceptable and called its use at the gallery ‘blatantly sacreligious’.

In a series of posts following this, the sheikh said that it is mandatory for all Maldivians to work towards removing the statues. The use of statues has been a point of concern in the Maldives, with a majority of its citizens identifying heavily with total religious uniformity, and many have taken to social media to express their misgivings over the matter.

On Monday, the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi unveiled the world's first semi-submerged art gallery, complete with statues designed by a globally renowned eco-artist which are built from non-toxic and non-harmful compounds. The statues are exposed and act as artificially reefs and Fairmont has said that it hopes they will become a sanctuary for marine life.