Family Court rules activist violated dignity of President’s son, holds Fayyaz and MDP liable

The Family Court on Sunday followed in the footsteps of the Civil Court in deciding that Mariyam ‘Mandhy’ Zubair, a senior activist from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), violated the dignity of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed’s teenage son with comments she made during a rally back in March, also deciding that Fayyaz Ismail, as a leader of the party, must bear responsibility for the infringement.

During a rally held by the MDP in Male’ City back in March, Mandhy alleged that President Muizzu made the decision last year to ban vaping in the Maldives “because one of Sajidha’s children got caught vaping”.

A day later, Sajidha said through a legal representative that the remarks – which she called false - refer to her then-16-year-old son, and that she plans on pursuing legal action.

Sajidha subsequently filed cases against Mandhy, the MDP and MDP chairperson Fayyaz at both the Civil Court and the Family Court over the remarks, accusing them of violating dignity of her son, endangering his safety, causing him mental distress, and harming his studies and future prospects.

Sajidha had filed two separate petitions against Mandhy, and Fayyaz and the MDP with the Family Court.

On Sunday, the court decided that Mandhy’s comments violated the dignity of the First Couple’s son, and that they reserved the right to sue for possible damages.

The court ruled that Fayyaz must bear responsibility for Mandhy’s remarks as a leader of the party, and also held the MDP liable for remarks made by both Mandhy and Ahmed Saleem (Maaz Saleem) during the rallies.

It decided that Sajidha reserves the right to sue Mandhy, Fayyaz and the MDP for damages.

But when asked whether Sajidha plans to sue for damages, her lawyer Aishath Azima Shakoor said that she does not.

Azima, a former Attorney General, said the cases were never about seeking financial compensation, but to protect children from becoming casualties of political rivalry.

“Neither the President nor his wife will be suing for damages. The Civil Court has also decided they reserve the right to sue for damages. But they have made no effort to do so. These petitions were never about seeking compensation,” she said.

On July 20, the Civil Court also ruled that Mandhy’s comments violated the dignity of the First Couple’s son, and that they reserve the right to sue for possible damages.

However, the court found there’s no basis to make either the MDP or Fayyaz take responsibility for the comments.