Home minister faces backlash for sharing details of suicide victim’s interactions with helpline

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan faced widespread public backlash on Thursday, after he publicly shared details of the interactions an 18-year-old university student had with a state-run victim support service before committing suicide.

The young woman was found dead in her room on early Tuesday, at the Majudhudheen Dhanaal, the Maldives National University (MNU)’s hostel in Male’. Allegations soon surfaced that she had contacted the police before committing suicide, but that the authorities failed to provide proper support.

At a press briefing on Thursday morning, Ihusan denied these allegations of negligence, and went on to share details of the communications the young woman had with the victim support helpline.

The decision sparked immediate backlash, with many describing it as a grave breach of confidentiality, as well the dignity and rights of the suicide victim.

Aminath Shifaath Abdul Razzaq, a former member of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM), expressed shock over Ihusan’s actions.

“In what universe is it okay for the State to publish the details of a psychosocial interaction between a mental health mechanism and a client?? This is a grave breach of the client’s dignity and rights. It is ethically, professionally and morally wrong on so many levels. I can’t wrap my head around it,” she wrote on Facebook.

Shifaath stressed that a psychosocial profession is bound by principles of confidentiality.

“If your most vulnerable moments are broadcasted on public TV by the State then who is going to reach out to these helplines ever? Are we trying to protect the interests of the vulnerable or protect the interests of the government?” she asked, urging the public against sharing the young woman’s messages any further.

Former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed demanded Ihusan’s resignation, stating that publicly sharing a suicide victim’s personal messages was “neither cool nor strong.”

“She isn’t a criminal for you to disgrace her like that before the press. It is because of such actions that such individuals hesitate to call the police,” he added, in a post on Facebook.

Ahmed Mauroof, the legal director at Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), condemned Ihusan’s actions, calling it “irresponsible.”

“She is not a suspect in a major crime; she is a victim of mental illness,” he wrote on X. “This is a significant breach of privacy and professional ethics that will make people hesitant to seek the help they desperately need.”

I condemn the irresponsible behavior of @min_mohst in publicly sharing certain information received to a helpline.
She is not a suspect in a major crime; she is a victim of mental illness.

This is a significant breach of privacy and professional ethics that will make people…

— Ahmed Mauroof (@ahmedmauruf) April 23, 2026

Rights advocate Midhuam Saud expressed shock at seeing Ihusan sharing the communications the young woman had with the victim support helpline on live TV.

“How can we as a country let this be the normal. It’s unprofessional and unethical. That was someone’s most vulnerable moment. Those conversations are supposed to be sacred, protected, private, safe. Instead, they were exposed live on TV,” he wrote on X.

Midhuam stated that it did not only violate her dignity, but also put out raw, triggering details that can deeply affect others who are already struggling with mental illness.

He questioned why anyone can feel safe enough to reach out for help, given clear evidence of the breach of confidentiality of a victim support helpline.

“Government and ministers are not supposed to stoop to the level of social media gossip groups. Those at the top are meant to set the example, by holding themselves to the highest standards, always,” he wrote.

I am honestly shocked after watching this.

A minister going on national TV and sharing what was said on a victim support helpline… just a day after someone died by suicide?

How can we as a country let this be the normal. It’s unprofessional and unethical.

That was someone’s… pic.twitter.com/ufNtWYcV8i

— Midhuam Saud(米渡）???????? (@Midhuamsaud) April 23, 2026

He, too, urged people against sharing her messages.

“Protect what little dignity and trust remains.”

The incident marks the third such high-profile incident where authorities have been accused of breaching confidentiality and violating the dignity of victims of crimes. This includes when the police had shared personal information of victims on live TV in face of allegations of negligence and misconduct in investigations into the case of a young woman who fell from the balcony of a home in Male’, and another who fell from a building to the roof of the adjacent building.