The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) strongly condemns recent actions by President Muizzu’s administration discriminatorily targeting members of the opposition, including the misuse of state institutions to suppress democratic freedoms and silence dissent.
In the early hours of Friday, at approximately 2:00 AM, the Maldives Police Service conducted an intrusive search of MDP National Council Member Moosa Ali Manik (Mookey)’s residence while he and his family were sleeping. This incident exemplifies a troubling trend of intimidation and harassment directed at opposition figures, raising serious concerns about the erosion and speedy decline of democratic norms and respect for basic rights in the Maldives under President Muizzu’s Government.
The rhetoric used by the government as justification for their actions is based on completely unsubstantiated claims defaming members of the MDP and other opposition members. This morning’s events are only the most recent in an escalating series of politically motivated incidents that highlight gross government overreach, including:
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee announcing investigations into former President Solih, former Economic Minister and current Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, and former Minister at the President’s Office Ali Shiyam, who served as a co-chair of the President’s Economic Council, regarding financial settlements granted under the previous administration.
Instituting travel bans on former State Minister Akram Kamaludeen (20/12/2024) and Former Managing Director of Fenaka Corporation Ahmed Saeed Mohamed (29/10/2024) through an investigation initiated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) based on allegations of corruption.
Issuing a police summons against MDP member (Hussain Shafiu) for an allegedly “threatening” post on social media.
Threatening action against MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail for a speech he gave at an MDP rally.
The MDP fully supports investigations into allegations of corruption by the independent authorities as enshrined within our constitution, but recent amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, pushed through the Parliament by the Government’s supermajority, have severely undermined the impartiality and independence of the ACC. This autocratic amendment grants President Muizzu unchecked authority to appoint the President of the Anti-Corruption Commission, giving the state effective political control of the institution, and turning it a tool to be wielded in pursuing his personal political vendettas.
Equally concerning is the Maldives Police Service’s (MPS) recent arbitrary selectivity over corruption investigations, highlighting further compromise within the integrity of the country’s oversight mechanisms, and weakening public trust in independent institutions.
The aforementioned cases are being weaponized with an end toward targeting opposition members while simultaneously deflecting attention from serious allegations of corruption against the current administration. These include allegations of gross misuse of state funds through the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), as well as corruption within the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) in selling highly sought-after plots of land in the greater male’ region. The MDP has lodged cases with the ACC and asked the MPS to open investigations into these cases, with reports indicating that President Muizzu himself has had active knowledge of, and possible involvement, in these corrupt dealings. At the time of writing, no credible investigations have been initiated to this effect.
The MDP demands that the Government immediately cease its politically motivated persecution of members of opposing parties, and respect the principles of democracy, transparency, and accountability. We urge the international community to closely monitor these developments and support the Maldivian people in safeguarding our hard-won democratic freedoms.