In a letter, Jamiyyathu Salaf told the UN Resident Coordinator Andrew Cox that the United Nations is responsible for making sure that Navi Pillay does not repeat such an action, which "undermines the religion of Islam and the Maldives constitution". "Navi Pillay being able to escape the atrocity she committed without being penalised will be a grave injustice committed against the Maldives and the Maldivian people by the United Nations. Believing that Maldivians will bear such an atrocity for a second time is no doubt an act of undermining the Maldives constitution and a disgrace to the citizens of Maldives," the letter in local Dhivehi language reads. Salaf stressed that it will be cautious of such actions "organised" by the UN. The failure of taking actions against Navi Pillay's statements will tarnish the reputation of UN bodies working in the Maldives and the public perception of the services provided by the organisations, Salaf added. During her four-day visit to the Maldives, Pillay told parliamentarians on Thursday that flogging women convicted of extra-marital sex is one of the most inhumane and degrading forms of violence against women. "I strongly believe that a public debate is needed in Maldives on this issue of major concern," she said. Pillay later told reporters that she held discussions with President Mohamed Nasheed, ministers and the judiciary on how to end the practice of flogging in the Maldives. "At the very least, pending more permanent changes in the law, it should be possible for the government and the judiciary to engineer a practical moratorium on flogging," she proposed. She also called on Maldivian authorities to remove the "discriminatory" constitutional provision that requires every citizen to be a Muslim. "I would again urge a debate on that to open up the benefits of the constitution to all and to remove that discriminatory provision," she said. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem backed Islamic Minister Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari's views against Pillay's statements and said the government would not allow debates to be held in the country on issues that are against the fundamentals of Islam. "What's there to discuss about flogging? There is nothing to debate about in a matter clearly stated in the religion of Islam. No one can argue with God," he told Haveeru . Political parties including the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), parliament, and religious groups have condemned the UN human rights chief's comments. Protestors also surrounded the UN Building in capital Male condemning Pillay's remarks and demanding an apology from the UN and parliamentarians.