MDP to file case with police accusing First Lady of infringing son’s dignity

Main opposition MDP has decided to file a case with Maldives Police Service, accusing First Lady Sajidha Ahmed of acting in a manner that threatens the dignity of her son.

MDP’s activist Mariyam ‘Mandhy’ Zubair recently drew criticism for suggesting during a rally last week that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided to ban vaping in Maldives last year because his 16-year-old son got caught vaping.

Sajidha announced via her legal representative last weekend that she plans to sue Mandhy, MDP and the party’s chairpson Fayyaz Ismail over the remarks. Azima Shakoor, a former attorney general, announced the First Couple’s decision to pursue legal action over the matter during the press conference held last Saturday.

MDP hosted a press conference on Tuesday, where lawyer Ahmed Mauroof, a member of the party’s legal team, highlighted the party’s strong commitment to child protection. He explained that the current issue stems from the child’s mother and an additional group of people infringing the child’s dignity.

In this regard, Mauroof said despite allegations by the President’s family claiming the case began because of comments made during an MDP rally, no information revealing the identity of the child involved was shared during the rally.

“On the contrary, the child’s identity was disclosed at the point when the child’s name, age and other information were disclosed in a statement delivered to the press by a lawyer, citing it to be on behalf of the child’s mother,” he added.

Mauroof claimed that majority of people were unaware of the child's identity before Azima publicized the statement and held the press conference. As such, he said MDP condemns actions during the press conference, which revealed the child’s identity, violated their dignity and put them at risk.

“We have also decided to submit the case involving the child’s mother, and the lawyer who represented her, to the relevant authorities,” he added.

In this regard, Mauroof said the case will be submitted to Maldives Police Service’s Family and Child Protection Department (FCPD) and Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Family and Children’s Service Department.

Speaking further, Mauroof alleged that the President’s family was pursuing legal action in the case to draw away the attention of the public from major issues plaguing the Maldives at present and to play the ‘victim card’.

He said MDP also calls on the public to refrain from involving children in political matters in ways that threaten their dignity, regardless of whether they are the parents of the child in question.

The remarks made at the MDP rally have been condemned by the Elections Commission (EC), Human Rights Commission and Children’s Ombudsperson’s Office. Children’s Ombudsperson’s Office has also filed a case with the Police over the matter.

Azima said the civil lawsuit on behalf of the President’s family will be filed within this week, adding the claims would be disclosed during the trial stage.