News Desk
MALÉ, Maldives — Ismail Naveen, a deputy commissioner of police, was appointed police commissioner on Tuesday, stepping into a role vacated amid intensifying public outrage over the handling of a young woman’s death, which has sparked nightly protests in the capital.
The appointment follows the resignation of former Commissioner Ali Shujau, who stepped down under pressure from Gen Z-led demonstrations demanding accountability in the case of 21-year-old Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed. Her death on April 18, after falling from a rooftop in Malé, has exposed deep fault lines in the Maldives’ justice system, with accusations of police misconduct and favoritism toward the well-connected fueling public anger.
Three candidates vied for the commissioner post: Deputy Commissioners Naveen and Farhad Fikri, and Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Shamim. After interviews, the Police Board deemed all three eligible, but President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu selected Naveen, presenting him with the appointment letter in a brief ceremony at the President’s Office.
Shujau’s exit came after the Prosecutor General’s Office issued a rare public rebuke of police conduct, calling for an internal probe into whether officers broke the law or mishandled Yumnu’s case. In a blistering statement, prosecutors demanded immediate corrections to any violations, an end to releasing information that could harm victims’ dignity, and full protection of individuals’ rights during investigations. The office also vowed to independently review public complaints.
The police have faced relentless criticism since ruling out foul play in Yumnu’s death, only to later arrest Raud Ahmed Zilal, the last person seen with her. Others present that night, including individuals tied to powerful families and Muizzu’s political allies—such as Yusuf Yassar Abdul Ghafoor, Aishath Layali Iqbal, and Izdian Mohamed Maumoon—face travel bans and have had their phones seized. The shifting narrative and selective disclosures have fueled allegations of a cover-up, with protesters accusing authorities of shielding influential figures.
Naveen’s appointment marks a new chapter for the police force. For many, Yumnu’s case has become a symbol of a deeper reckoning—one that challenges the very foundations of fairness and the rule of law in the Maldives.
