Maldives Minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali suspended for ‘black magic’ on President Muizzu

 

Maldives Minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem was suspended following her arrest alongside two siblings on allegations of practicing "black magic" against President Mohamed Muizzu, according to local media reports.

Saleem, who serves as the state minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Energy, was detained along with two others on June 23 and remanded in custody for seven days.

The Maldives-based Sun reported that Shamnaz, previously listed as a political appointee on the Environment Ministry's website, has now been moved to the list of former political appointees.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan confirmed that police were investigating a case involving Shamnaz and the two other individuals, as reported by Sun.

Official statements from the Maldives government regarding this matter are awaited. Shamnaz had previously served on the Male City Council alongside President Muizzu during his tenure as the city's mayor. After Muizzu's election to the presidency last year, Shamnaz resigned from the council, initially serving as state minister at Muliaage before moving to the Environment Ministry.

Her role is significant in a nation grappling with the challenges posed by climate change. Experts from the United Nations warn that rising sea levels could render the Maldives nearly uninhabitable by the end of the century.

In a related context, the Maldives has seen previous incidents involving accusations of sorcery. In April 2023, a woman on Manadhoo was tragically killed following allegations of practicing black magic, though subsequent police investigations found no evidence to support the claim.

While sorcery itself is not defined as a criminal offense under the Maldives' penal code, Islamic law does stipulate a possible six-month jail term for such practices. Traditional ceremonies are widely practiced across the archipelago, with beliefs that they can bring benefits or inflict harm upon others.