MDP concerned over threats to Rozaina amid factional feud
The party feels that this will prevent women from joining politics.
By
Aminath Shifleen
Main ruling MDP on Monday expressed concern over the threats issued to the Addu Meedhoo MP amid the ongoing fight between members supporting President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former President Mohamed Nasheed.
During a budget debate in parliament on Thursday, members of Nasheed's faction raised questions about granting a second term to President Solih. The controversy escalated after Rozaina responded to the remarks on Twitter and the official WhatsApp group of the MDP National Assembly.
Since then, the argument has further heated up on Twitter, with Rozaina facing a lot of flak from members of the Nasheed faction. Rozaina continued responding. With this, the public also entered the arguments and the issue escalated.
Faced with criticism from members of the Nasheed faction and the public, MDP secretariat issued a statement on Monday evening saying that MDP does not call for violence against anyone and will not support anything that encourages people to commit a criminal offence.
According to MDP:
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Differences arising out of political rivalries need to be dealt with respectfully
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Communication should not pose threats in such rivalries
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Freedom of expression must be exercised in a manner that does not violate the tenets of Islam, within the framework of the law.
"It is important to remember that freedom of speech and expression is not as broad to encompass calls for violence against someone else," the party said in a statement.
According to the party, it is the party's premise to bring women into politics and give them a chance in politics. "The party condemns the open call for atrocities on one member when there are only four women MPs in the parliament," it said.
The party feels that this will prevent women from joining politics.
The party also stated that they would look into those that threatened Rozaina and would demand an inquiry into the matter.
In the first round of the 2013 presidential election, DRP, where Rozaina was at the time, backed Waheed. Waheed's running mate was then DRP leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali. The DRP later formed an alliance with MDP in that election. After the election, Rozaina left the DRP and joined MDP on 21 November, 2013.
