The president of the Maldives ordered the country’s resorts to reopen their spas last Wednesday pending a court decision, just days after they were shut under pressure from an Islamic opposition party.

President Mohammed Nasheed asked the country’s Supreme Court to decide whether operating spas is against the principles of Islam – a decision that could be critical to the country’s economic lifeline.

The previous week, authorities had ordered all spas to be closed following a mass protest on December 23 calling for a halt to what demonstrators called “anti-Islamic activities” in the Maldives.

“The government has decided we will open all spas and give all the services to tourists which we have been giving before,” President Nasheed said.

“The tour operators were very worried” about the closure, he added.

Protesters had also demanded a ban on alcohol on islands inhabited by local people, a halt to plans to allow direct flights from Israel, and the demolition of statues given by other countries to commemorate a South Asian summit in November which they saw as idols.