Minister says questions on past tweets fall outside briefing’s thematic area as journalists seek response

Environment Minister Ali Shareef on Tuesday declined to comment on his appointment or his previous social media posts, saying the questions fell outside the thematic focus of the day’s press briefing.

The cabinet was reshuffled on the 14th of this month, during which Ali Shareef, a climate change expert, was appointed as environment minister. Shortly after his appointment, several past posts he had made on social media resurfaced and drew public criticism.

At Tuesday’s press conference, a journalist asked the minister about the posts. Ali Shareef responded that the matter was not related to the subject of the current briefing.

“As I said, I just want to hold this discipline here, in the thematic area so that you can utilize this time,” he said.

The journalist then asked whether he would apologise for the posts.

After reiterating his earlier response, Ali Shareef was then asked specifically about a tweet from September 2020 in which he had described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi using a derogatory term and made comments about Hinduism.

ސޯޝަލް މީޑިއާގައި ހަޑި ހުތުރު ބަސްތައް ބޭނުން ކުރައްވައި، ބައެއް ސިޔާސީ ބޭފުޅުން އަދި ޤައުމު ތަކުގެ ލީޑަރުންނަށް މީގެ ކުރިން ފުރައްސާރަ ކޮށްފައިވާތީ އެންވަޔަރަމަންޓް މިނިސްޓަރު އަލީ ޝަރީފްއާ ސުވާލު ކުރުމުން، މައުޟޫއާ ނުގުޅޭ ސުވާލެއް ކަމަށް ވިދާޅުވެ ޖަވާބެއް ނުދެއްވި.… pic.twitter.com/xCa1WuJ97q

— Shaihan Zareer ????❓ (@ShaihanZareer) April 28, 2026

“No. I don’t believe Modi is a monster,” he said briefly.

In a 2019 post, Ali Shareef had also made remarks about former MP Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra), who is physically disabled.

“He should be thankful that Allah gave him the rest of his limbs safely,” he wrote at the time.

He had also posted comments criticising former President Mohamed Nasheed and members of the 19th Parliament, including members of the then‑opposition PPM. The posts were later deleted following public criticism.

When asked by Sun on what basis Ali Shareef was appointed and whether the appointment reflected public sentiment, he said the decision was made by the President. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said last week that there would be no one more educated and experienced in the field than Ali Shareef.

He remarked that anyone reviewing Ali Shareef's professional background and academic credentials would find common ground.