By Vishal Arora
Allegations and counter allegations fly in the political cauldron of Malé, the nation’s capital.
Three powerful public figures in the Maldives say they are victims of a murky political witch-hunt by President Abdulla Yameen, who, ironically, wouldn’t have been in office without their support in the controversial ousting of former President Mohamed Nasheed three years ago.
Gasim Ibrahim, resort tycoon and leader of the Jumhooree Party, alleges that he has received death threats and that his business interests are being hurt. Earlier this month, his party severed ties with the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives.
Mohamed Nazim, meanwhile, was until last month the defence minister, but he was sacked on charges of “treason” after police raided his home. Authorities claimed he was in possession of a 9mm pistol, bullets, and improvised explosive device. Nazim’s lawyers say he was framed, implying that the firearms were planted by police.
Earlier, in December, Ahmed Faiz Hussain was removed as chief justice of the Supreme Court on the grounds of “incompetence,” although that allegation was never substantiated. “Today will be written down as a black day in the constitutional history of the Maldives. I state this is a black day for the constitution,” he said after his removal.
Until recently, all three were seen as on Yameen’s side in the country’s political divide. That divide is fed by an ideological clash between pro-democracy, moderate Muslims, represented mostly by Nasheed, and those in the camp of former authoritarian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – like his half-brother Yameen – who call for conservative Islam to dominate politics and society.
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