The visit by religious scholar Dr. Bilal Philips on an invitation extended by the Youth Ministry has been postponed.

Dr. Philips accepted the invitation to visit the Maldives extended by Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof today.

However, in a tweet Minister Mahloof noted that the event has been postponed indefinitely in order to seek further advise regarding the concerns and opinions that have been shared regarding the event and Dr. Philips.

Minister Mahloof's tweet came moments after Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed said that he does not think that Dr. Philips should be brought to Maldives.

Speaker Nasheed stressed that most Muslim communities do not accept Dr. Philips as someone who is a proper preacher in terms of religion. Hence, he added that he does not think that Dr. Philips should be brought to the Maldives.