Abdul Raheem accuses Fayyaz of inciting terrorism, demands investigation

Parliament speaker and chairperson of the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), Abdul Raheem Abdulla has demanded a police investigation after Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), suggested that people should do to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu what was done to former Maldivian president Mohamed Amin Didi

During a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Fayyaz said that “brutality will be met with brutality”. He also said that Maldivian people will take “a play out of history books” in face of brutality.

He had made the remarks in response to questions regarding comments made during a recent MDP rally in Kulhudhuffushi City, when one of the speakers said that people should do to President Muizzu “what was done to Amin.”

“Mohamed Amin or Andhiri Andhirin. I don’t know. Stop being brutal towards the people. The Maldivian people will take a play out of history books when faced with brutality,” he said.

Amin served as the first president of the Maldives in 1953. He was deposed, gravely wounded following an attack by an angry mob, and later died while living in banishment.

Meanwhile, Andhiri Andhirin is the local name for Andreas Andre, a Portuguese captain who played a key role in helping Portugal capture the Maldives, and was later killed by Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam who liberated the country.

In a post on X on Monday night, Abdul Raheem said that Fayyaz’ remarks were “a clear incitement to terrorism.”

He called on authorities to investigate it as a serious matter.

“Such remarks must not be treated as a small matter, especially coming from the top official of the opposition party,” he added.

މިއީ ކަނޑައެޅިގެން ޓެރަރިޒަމަށް ހިތްވަރުދިނުން. މިއީ ކަމާގުޅޭ މުއައްސަސާތަކުން ވަރަށް ސީރިއަސްކަމާއެކު ވަގުތުން ބަލަންޖެހޭކަމެއްކަމެއް.ޢަމުދުން އިދިކޮޅު ސިޔާސީ ޕާޓީގެ އެންމެ އިސް މަގާމުގައި ހުންނެވި ބޭފުޅަކު މިފަދަ ވާހަކައެއް ދެއްކުމަކީ އާދައިގެކަމެއްކަމަށް ބަލައިގެންނުވާނެ. pic.twitter.com/bVfzeBku5n

— Abdul Raheem Abdulla (@Banafsaa) December 9, 2024

The remarks were also condemned in an emergency motion filed with the Parliament on Tuesday morning. Lawmakers from the PNC – who hold a supermajority of seats in the legislative assembly – accused the MDP of being “a terrorist group.”

The uproar comes with the MDP set to hold a major rally in Male’ later on Tuesday, over alleged constitutional violations.