MDP says it holds government liable for Ziyada

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said that Ziyada Naeem – who has succumbed to death due to severe sexual abuse in hands of her husband – had been unable to escape the clutches of her husband due to negligence on part of government.

Speaking during a press conference held by MDP on Wednesday, MDP Women’s branch President Shifa Mohamed said that the abuser should be made answerable to his crimes by the government and through the country’s justice system.

MDP said that society, government and judiciary had failed to create a way for Ziyada to escape the abuse.

Speaking during the press conference, member of MDP Women – Lawyer Fareesha Abdulla said that research showed the main motive behind domestic violence perpetrated by husband to be exude dominance over the partner.

She said that Maldivian society was a feeding ground for domestic violence, with women being the victims in most cases reported.

She said that authorities had failed to eliminate the core reasons why domestic violence was taking place.

“One reason why Ziyada Naeem such injuries is because she wasn’t empowered to escape her husband’s abuse. It’s because neither society nor government nor judiciary had established a system through which she could get empowered,” said Fareesha.

MDP also called upon the government to establish a safe environment for Ziyada’s three children.

Meanwhile, Gender Ministry has said that it would do all that was in their power to provide justice for Ziyada, and that swift and sure punishment would be meted out in accordance with legal framework to perpetrators of such acts of violence.

Ziyada’s body is to be transported out of the country for autopsy.

Ziyada’s husband – Ibrahim Shah, 40, remains in police custody.