'Fun without fear' ideology responsible for woman's fall, president says
The President criticised the politicisation of such issues and said those involved in promoting certain lifestyles have continued to use youth for politics.
President Mohamed Muizzu said on Thursday that individuals who promoted lifestyles involving unregulated social activities should be held accountable in connection with the recent incident involving a woman who fell from the ninth floor of an apartment building in Male’.
Speaking at the 92nd Annual General Meeting of the Maldives Police Service, the President referred to the incident involving Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, who fell from a window of H. Fentenoige on Thursday night after allegedly being drugged at a prior gathering. He described the incident as a serious matter and called for reflection on its underlying causes.
President Muizzu said the situation is a consequence of messages previously encouraged by some, which promoted behaviour without regard for social and religious norms. He stated that those who had previously advocated for a lifestyle of unrestricted social enjoyment should bear responsibility.
“There are those who years ago promoted ‘having fun without fear’ as something necessary,” he said. “Those individuals now bear a share of the responsibility.”
The President also criticised the politicisation of such issues and said those involved in promoting certain lifestyles have continued to use youth for political purposes.
He added that it is not appropriate to exploit such incidents to advance political agendas, particularly outside the framework of Islamic principles and established cultural values.
President Muizzu also called on the public to critically assess information, and not be swayed by narratives driven by emotion or misinformation.
“We should not become slaves to various lies spread by people who do not know who they are,” he said.
Referring to law enforcement and governance, he emphasised that the proper use of intelligence and discernment is a responsibility rather than a choice.
The police have arrested Raud Ahmed Zilal in relation to the fall of Yumnu. He was with her at the time of the incident. The passports of seven others who were with them before the incident have also been seized.
One of the individuals, Izdian Mohammed Maumoon, 28, who previously held the position of Strategic Communications Under Secretary in the President’s Office, has been dismissed. Raud’s brother, Daud Ahmed Zilal, who served as Undersecretary for Digital Strategy, has been suspended from his position without pay and removed from the Youth Council.
The investigation is ongoing.
