List on social media of shops selling Arafat's cat-meat products is fake: Immigration

Maldives Immigration has announced that the list of shops being circulated on social media under their name is fake.

A list of twenty shops purportedly selling food produced with cat meat by arrested Arafat Hossain has been circulating on social media today, leading to raising public concerns. Maldives Immigration has doused these rumours, announcing that the list is fabricated.

The list came with advice tagged on at the end, asking consumers to consult a doctor if they have eaten products from any of the listed outlets.

Controller General of Immigration Shamman Waheed confirmed that the list is fake via a post on social media X.

Arafat Hossain, 32, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested after failing to abide by a summons by Immigration following allegations of killing cats and using their meat to prepare food. Arafat has also been found to be living and working illegally in the country.

Videos on social media show a local questioning Arfath at the parking zone in front of Marry Brown, near Boduthakurufaanu Magu, a location where many stray cats live. In the video, when questioned why he is in the parking lot with plastic bags, he said that he uses them to take cats home.

The individual who published the video also showed clips from outside Arfath's residence, and said neighbours have heard cat cries, as well as having reported seeing body parts of cats in the vicinity.