Outrage as police seize MDP woman’s phone, ignore death threats

Police are facing criticism for confiscating the mobile phone of an opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) member over a social media post, while taking no apparent action against religious scholar Shuaib Ali, who publicly called for violence against MDP protesters.

The phone of Fathimath Zahiyya (Zaya), a member of the MDP National Assembly, was seized under a court order issued by the Criminal Court following an investigation by the Robbery and Theft Investigation Unit.

According to the court order, obtained by Atoll Times, police intelligence reported that at 11:08 p.m. last Saturday, a Facebook account under the name “Zaya Fathimath” had posted a message interpreted as a threat against the police.

Zahiyya’s supporters have said the post referred to her “crushing Kandoodhoo chilli” for an upcoming rally — a cultural reference often used in political contexts — and did not constitute a threat.

Meanwhile, last Friday, Shuaib wrote on Facebook that “if the protesters violate the permission, they should be beaten down and shot.” The post has since been deleted, but screenshots and message links to the original post continue to circulate online.

Despite the public nature of the statement, police have not commented on whether an investigation is underway. Multiple media outlets, including Daur, have reported that the police did not respond to questions on the matter.

Under Article 124 of the Penal Code, calling for violence or harm against a group based on political opinion, religion, or other grounds constitutes a fifth-degree felony, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, with a minimum sentence of nine months and 18 days if found guilty.

The contrasting responses to the two cases have drawn public criticism, with commentators accusing the authorities of political bias and selective enforcement of the law.