Councilwoman Yashfa, who went viral with song at MDP rally, receives police summons

Mariyam Yashfa, a councilwoman from R. Dhuvaafaru, who went viral with her song at a recent rally held by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has been summoned for questioning by the police.

Yashfa had become a well-known face after she sang a parody song during an MDP rally at the Alimas Carnival in Male’ on December 10.

Yashfa confirmed to Sun on Monday morning that she has been told to present herself for questioning at 10:00 am Tuesday.

Yashfa said that she received a phone call from a sergeant at the Dhuvaafaru Police Station on Sunday night telling her to present herself to the police station for questioning regarding a case against her.

She said the police did not specify the nature of the investigation against her at the time.

“And then I said, there’s no one who would make an allegation against me except for the government. In the initial call, I was told to present myself to the police at 10:00 am today. When I asked about the notice of summons, they said that I would need to come in 24 hours after I receive the summons. They said I would be served with the summons sometime today. They said I would need to come in at 10:00 am tomorrow,” she said.

Yashfa said she later received a second phone call from the police headquarters in Male’, and was told she is being summoned for questioning regarding her speech during a rally at the MDP ‘Dhandikoshi Jagaha’ party center in Male’.

Yashfa insisted that she did not make any illegal remark during the rally, but had voiced concern regarding the delay in projects in Dhuvaafaru.

She had performed a bandhi and raivaru – forms of traditional Maldivian poetry – during the rally in question.

The police have not been responsive to repeated requests for comment regarding the case.

The latest summons come after Hussain Shafiu, an MDP activist, was questioned by the police over a post he made on X. Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of MDP, was also recently questioned by the police.

The move has sparked criticism from the MDP, who have accused the government of suppressing political dissent.