Maldives Police arrested Ali Aanim Mufeed (29) of Athamaa Villa, S. Hithadhoo, on allegations of inciting violence through social media during protests against the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill. He was detained under a court order on the night of 20 August 2025.
Tweets Encouraging Violence
Posting under the handle @tweetsfromanim, Mufeed published multiple tweets urging protestors to abandon peaceful demonstrations and embrace violent tactics.
In one widely shared post, he wrote:
Thihen dhakkaluma kuraa muzahara kuri zamaan faaithu vejje!
Kameh rangalhu kuran beynun nama petroll fulhi eh ukaa. Than than roa koh, maguthakuga dhuvvan undhagu vaa varu kolla.
Ehisaabun jeheynee adu ahan. Muzaharaa akee request eh noon, demand eh! Know the difference https://t.co/hrXlhxXhy6
— Tweets of Anim🔻 (@tweetsfromanim) August 19, 2025
Translation: “The time for peaceful demonstrations is over! If you want to fix something, throw a petrol bottle. Burn places and make it difficult to drive on the roads. That’s when they’ll have to listen. A protest is not a request, it’s a demand! Know the difference.”
In another, he escalated further, declaring:
Its time for a revolution!
The first step is normailizing the talk of torching buildings and causing temporary issues to prevent a permnant bankruptcy!!!
Tell your friends, tell the stranger you meet on the roads! If not today, then never!!
— Tweets of Anim🔻 (@tweetsfromanim) August 19, 2025
Police say these messages were clear calls to violence and amounted to incitement of terrorism under Maldivian law.
Charges He Faces
Mufeed is now under investigation for three major offenses:
- Anti-Terrorism Act (Law No. 32/2015, Article 10a): Disseminating violent content online.
🔹 Penalty: 7–15 years imprisonment. - Penal Code (Law No. 9/2014, Article 615a6): Creating a dangerous or frightening public situation.
🔹 Penalty: Up to 1 year imprisonment or fines. - Penal Code (Law No. 9/2014, Article 80a1): Attempt to commit a crime through violent intent.
🔹 Penalty: 5–10 years imprisonment.
If convicted, he could face a combined sentence exceeding 10 years, with the terrorism-related charge carrying the harshest punishment.
Police Statement
In their official statement issued last night, police confirmed the arrest: “He is suspected of making posts on the social media platform X that allegedly encouraged unrest to those protesting against the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill. The police are currently investigating this case.”
Police have urged the public to refrain from spreading violent rhetoric online, stressing that incitement of terrorism or violence will be dealt with under the full extent of the law.
