In light of recent events surrounding political protests in the Maldives, Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla has called for stringent legal action against individuals who exploit children in political rivalries. His remarks follow controversial comments made during a series of nightly protests this Ramadan.
Maryam Zubair, an activist associated with the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the mother of Parliament Member Meekail Naseem, made disparaging remarks about the children of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu during the recent protests in Malé City. Mariyam’s comments sparked widespread backlash, particularly as they targeted innocent children in the heat of political conflict.
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) condemned these remarks, highlighting that the exploitation of children in political demonstrations constitutes a clear violation of their rights. The commission stressed the need to protect children from being involved in such activities and called for the establishment of preventive measures to ensure this does not happen again.
Speaker Abdulla also expressed his outrage over the incident, stating that children should not be subjected to false accusations and political rivalry. He emphasized that these actions, driven by personal jealousy and political conflicts, should not be allowed to undermine the dignity and rights of children. Abdulla proposed that beyond issuing statements of condemnation, more proactive steps be taken to ensure the protection of children in political discourse.
The Election Commission, the governing body for political parties, alongside the Human Rights Commission, has also raised concerns about Mariyam’s comments and urged that such remarks should not be repeated in future political activities.
Despite the widespread criticism from various sectors of society, the MDP has issued a defense of their activist Mariyam’s statements, which has further ignited debate and criticism, especially on social media platforms. Many citizens have expressed their dissatisfaction with the party’s stance, which has added fuel to the ongoing controversy surrounding the incident.
