Islamic scholar Dr. Mohamed Iyaz has stated that accepting money by selling one’s ID card is like taking a plunge into fire.

Dr. Iyaz took to twitter while reports have surfaced that some individuals are buying citizens ID cards for hefty amounts while the Presidential Election is upon us. In his tweet typed out in Dhivehi, Dr. Iyaz appealed on everyone to not sell their identities to someone just for the greed of money, going on to remind citizens that such money is “fire”.

While Iyaz has brought the matter into the spotlight, prominent religious scholar Sheikh Ali Zaid had also expressed concern over the “political use of religion”.

Sheikh Zaid revealed that buying ID cards from citizens for hefty amounts is forbidden, reminding citizens that bribery is strictly forbidden in the religion.