News Desk
President Mohamed Muizzu has rejected claims that the arrest of main opposition leader Abdulla Shahid was politically motivated, describing allegations of child sexual abuse against the veteran diplomat as a grave matter that must be handled strictly through due process.
Addressing a press conference at the President’s Office, Muizzu insisted that his administration does not engage in political vendettas or target opponents through the legal system.
“This government will not arrest any political figure for political reasons,” Muizzu said. “That is not something we have done, nor is it something I will ever do.”
Shahid, a former foreign minister, speaker of parliament, and president of the United Nations General Assembly, was taken into police custody on Monday evening under a court warrant. The Criminal Court subsequently remanded him in custody for 30 days, citing the severity of the allegations and the evidence presented by the police.
If convicted of abusing a minor from a position of trust, Shahid could face between 20 and 25 years in prison.
The arrest comes at a sensitive political moment. Shahid, a prominent figure in Maldivian politics for over four decades, had been actively campaigning to secure the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket for the 2028 presidential election.
Shortly before his arrest, Shahid posted a statement on social media denying the accusations, characterising them as a baseless campaign of character assassination designed to inflict political damage.
Following his arrest, Shahid was removed from the MDP’s national council WhatsApp group, though the opposition party has yet to issue an official statement regarding the case.
Muizzu maintained that no individual should be above the law regardless of their stature, pledging that the state would allow legal procedures to run their course without interference.
“Whoever the offender may be, there should be no double standards in enforcing the law,” Muizzu said. “The government must ensure that due process is followed.”
