MDP social media activist Hussain Shafiu was summoned by police over an 8 November X post criticising rising cigarette prices and President Mohamed Muizzu with the nickname 'Kazzab'. Opposition leader Fayyaz Ismail condemned the summons as an attempt to silence dissent, and the Muizzu administration has not commented.
One outlet so far Only Maldives Republic has reported this among the sources we monitor. A gap in what we monitor, not proof that others did not report it.
He has been ordered to appear at a police station for questioning at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, 1 December.
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
You can't intimidate me. I grew up in a rough ocean too.
Expressing dissatisfaction against the government has become a serious crime today.
Dictators will always silence the people and prevent them from expressing their views. Ideas and thoughts cannot be locked. Despite this summons, the people and especially the MDP members will have the courage to speak out.
Nothing to compare yet. If another monitored source reports it, its headline appears beside this one.
The post, dated 8 November, said he had purchased a box of cigarettes for MVR 270, adding a remark widely interpreted as directed at President Muizzu
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
Following the summons, MDP social media activists began reposting Shafiu's original tweet in solidarity.
Word for word from the report in Maldives Republic. Open the report
