Minister says ex-Pres Solih should stripped of state perks and security over ‘blatant lies’

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed said on Saturday that former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih should be stripped of the financial allowances and security he is entitled to as a former head of state for telling ‘blatant lies’ regarding police conduct during the crackdown on the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s mass rally in Male’ City.

The MDP’s ‘Lootuvaifi’ anti-corruption rally kicked off with hundreds of protestors at 09:00 pm Friday from the Artificial Beach in the Henveiru district of Male’. But as the protestors attempted to march along the Majeedhee Magu, the police accused them of diverting from the pre-approved route and blocked their path. Clashes ensued as protestors attempted to force their way through, with the police using pepper spray and sound cannons to control the crowd. Eight protestors were taken into custody, while one suffered a heart attack after reportedly getting pepper-sprayed at close range.

In a post on X just after noon on Saturday, Solih, who was among MDP’s top brass that attended Friday’s rally, accused President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration of “using disproportionate force during last night’s peaceful protest.”

He also said that Mohamed Raslaan, the party’s vice president of Central Hulhumale’ constituency, had suffered a heart attack after being pepper-sprayed and subjected to LRADs.

“Such brutality to silence citizens is a strong sign of a government losing all legitimacy,” he added.

Saeed took to X to accuse Solih of spreading lies to destabilize the country.

“So, now Mr. Solih suddenly believes he’s a fresh graduate of Democracy, as if he’s just discovered the concept for the first time!” wrote Saeed, in a scathing post on X. “Let’s get real: Malé is a 2x2 km island, with traffic, congestion, and very limited public space. That’s why previous governments, including MDP under Mr. Solih himself designated specific protest zones and established protocols for demonstrations. This isn’t some new authoritarian crackdown. It’s common sense in a crowded city. The pre-arranged, agreed protest route between Police and MDP was violated by MDP! That’s the fact!”

Saeed said that Solih should be stripped of the financial allowances and security he is entitled to by the state.

“Former presidents like this who repeatedly spread such lies and incite public disorder must be deprived of the allowances, the office expense coverage and the security they receive. This is a blatant lie. It is important that former presidents do not speak this way and tarnish the reputation of the police,” wrote Saeed in Dhivehi language, in a post otherwise written in English.

Saeed defended police conduct during the crackdown on Friday’s rally, saying they tried to handle it professionally, “balancing public safety with the right to peaceful assembly.”

He said that former presidents should carry “some level of responsibility and avoid spreading lies to destabilize the social order.”

So, now Mr. Solih suddenly believes he’s a fresh graduate of Democracy, as if he’s just discovered the concept for the first time!
Let’s get real: Malé is a 2x2 km island, with traffic, congestion, and very limited public space. That’s why previous governments, including MDP… pic.twitter.com/mcJ5MjzafZ

— Mohamed Saeed (@em_saeed) October 4, 2025

The call to deprive Solih of perks comes after President Muizzu told parliamentarians from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) in early September that he is in favor of scaling back allowances paid by the state to former Maldivian presidents and parliamentarians.

The police have confirmed that eight protestors were arrested from Friday’s rally for “disobeying police orders, obstruction, and damage to police gear.”

On Saturday, six of them were remanded in custody of the police for 15 days. This includes former Dhaandhoo MP Yaugoob Abdulla, former North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, and incumbent president of Maafushi Council, Hassan Solah, as well as Ali Juman, Azeem Ali, and Hassan Shakir.

Meanwhile, 47-year-old Raslaan, the protestor who suffered a heart attack, is being treated at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

MDP said the heart attack resulted from being exposed to pepper spray at close range and being subjected to LRADs – something which the party said the police are not authorized to use for crowd control.

The MDP said they will be lodging cases with both the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) and the National Integrity Commission (NIC).

The police have denied allegations of excessive use of force, saying protestors obstructed officers from performing their legal duties and threw water bottles and rocks at them. The police warned they will be taking legal action against the protestors in question.

The Foreign Ministry has also issued a statement defending police conduct, insisting that officers acted responsibly and with restraint in ensuring public safety, even in the face of obstruction and provocation from the protesters.