The Elections Commission (EC) on Saturday night gazetted regulations for this year's presidential election with a prohibition for campaigning in religious sermons.
The regulations include a code of ethics for candidates and campaigners with several prohibitions. The code of ethics was specified in section 24(a) of the regulations.
"No statement for gaining or diminishing support for a particular candidate or party must be made in religious teachings, sermons and different religious ceremonies," states section 24 of the regulations enacted by the EC for this year's presidential election.
The fourth subsection of section 24(a) states, "No effort shall be made to gain or diminish support for a particular candidate or party through the lessons taught at schools, madrasas, colleges and universities."
The regulations also interpret in detail efforts to obstruct campaigning for a candidate. Removing or damaging posters and other items put up for gaining support to a candidate was prohibited. The regulations also prohibit multiple campaign events at the same time and venue.
The presidential election is scheduled for September 9. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Qasim Ibrahim, leader of the government coalition's Jumhooree Party, have announced their candidacies.
The opposition candidate, former president Abdulla Yameen, is serving an 11-year prison sentence on corruption charges.
