Solih accuses govt of reviving ‘dark past’ of punishing expressions of political dissent

Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has accused the incumbent administration of trying to revive Maldives’ dark past of criminalizing and punishing expressions of political dissent.

He made the allegation in a post on X on Saturday night, after Hussain Shafiu (Thuthu), an activist from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the country’s main opposition, received a police summons over a post he shared on the social media platform on August 8.

“Bringing people in to the police headquarters for questioning in response to social media posts and sending warning letters to councils in a step backwards in the Maldivian people’s hard-won freedom of expression and democracy,” said Solih.

“It is alarming that the government is trying to revive the dark past of criminalizing and punishing criticism of the government.”

ސޯޝަލް މީޑިއާގައި ކުރާ ޕޯސްޓުތަކަށް ފުލުހަށް ހާޒިރުކުރުމާއި ކައުންސިލްތަކަށް އިންޒާރުގެ ސިޓީ ފޮނުވުމަކީ ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ބުރަ މަސައްކަތުން ހޯދި ހިޔާލުފާޅު ކުރުމުގެ މިނިވަންކަމާއި ޑިމޮކްރަސީގައި ފަހަތަށް އެޅޭ ފިޔަވަޅެއް. ސަރުކާރަށް ފާޑުކިޔުން އަމާޒުކުރުމަކީ ކުށެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި…

— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) November 30, 2024

The allegation also comes after the Local Government Authority (LGA) sent a letter to the Gadhdhoo Council last week demanding action against the council’s president Mohamed Ahmed for criticizing the government over a months-long delay in approval for permits to initiate work on a pre-school in the island.

The LGA said that the remarks, which were made in a WhatsApp group, were “vulgar” and “defamatory” towards President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

However, the Gadhdhoo Council believes the remarks are being blown out of proportion.

Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of the MDP, has also expressed concern over what he described as an emerging trend of treating expressions of dissent as a major crime.

“Autocratic rulers have always silenced the voices of the people and obstructed freedom of expression. You cannot put a lock on free thinking. Regardless of these summonses, the Maldivian people, especially members of the MDP, continue to have the courage to exercise freedom of expression,” he said.

ޓްވީޓު ކުރާތީ ފުލުސް އޮފީހަށް ހާޒިރުވާން ޝާފިއު (ތުއްތު) އަށް އަންގައިފި. ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ އާއި ސަރުކާރުގެ އިސްވެރިންގެ "އަބުރުފުޅު"ގެ ހިމާޔަތުގައި ކައުންސިލަރުންނާ ދެކޮޅަށް ފިޔަވަޅު އަޅަން ފަށައިފި. ސަރުކާރާ މެދު ހިތްހަމަނުޖެހުން އޮތްކަން ހާމަކުރުމަކީ ބޮޑު ކުށަކަށް މިއަދު… pic.twitter.com/V9VrvTrK1N

— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) November 30, 2024

According to the police summons, Shafiu has been accused of “using vulgar language and inciting fear” with the post in question.

In the post in question, Shafiu wrote “Kazzab can only [explicative]. I just brought a pack [of cigarettes] tonight for MVR 270! Do not let me see you on the road!”

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan defended the decision to summon him for questioning regarding the post.

He said that the warning “do not let me see you on the road!” implies a threat of physical assault.

މި ޕޯސްޓުގައި ލިޔެފައި މިއޮތީ “މަށަށް ކަލޭ މަގެއްމަތިން ނުފެއްނާތި!” މި ޖުމްލައިން ކޮންމެވެސް މީހަކަށް ނިސްބަތްކޮށް އެމީހަކު މަގެއްމަތިން ފެނިއްޖެނަމަ އެމީހަކަށް ޖިސްމާނީގޮތުން ގެއްލުމެއް ދީފާނެކަމަށް ދޭހަވާގޮތަށް އޮތުމުން މިކަމުގެ ތަފްސީލު ހޯދާ މިކަން ސާފުކުރުމަކީ ކަމާބެހޭ… https://t.co/314btJuRuj

— Minister of Homeland Security & Technology (@min_mohst) November 30, 2024