President Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the Maldives has moved beyond the era of political revenge and intimidation, declaring that there is no longer any danger associated with carrying out political activities in the country.
Speaking during PSM’s “Nation Chat” programme, the President said one of his key presidential pledges was to establish political stability and ensure that political figures could operate freely without fear of retaliation.
According to President Muizzu, that promise has now been fulfilled.
He emphasized that during the past two and a half years, no political leader or former president has been imprisoned as part of political vendettas.
“I pledged to put an end to that practice. By the grace of God, there is not a single person in the Maldives who has been jailed for political reasons over the past two and a half years,” the President said.
He described this as one of the major achievements of his administration, noting that previous governments had frequently imprisoned political rivals and former presidents.
“Under previous administrations, finding some way to jail former presidents was treated almost like a hobby,” he added.
The President further stated that all political activities and opposition work should continue within constitutional and legal boundaries, stressing that attempts to destabilize the country or undermine democratic institutions were irresponsible.
President Muizzu also addressed the issue of freedom of expression, saying such freedoms must be exercised responsibly and within Islamic principles.
According to the President, while every citizen has the right to freedom of expression, Islam and the Constitution do not permit defamation, character assassination or violations of the rights of others.
“Freedom of expression belongs to everyone and should be exercised fully. But there are boundaries that apply to all of us as Muslims,” he said.
The President assured that his administration would continue allowing political activity and criticism in the future as well, provided such activities remain within religious, constitutional and legal limits.
He also expressed concern over what he described as the absence of a responsible opposition in the Maldives.
According to President Muizzu, an effective opposition should not only hold the government accountable but also cooperate with the government on initiatives that benefit the nation and the public.
He concluded by calling on political actors to move away from retaliation and personal hostility and instead prioritize the long-term interests of the country and its citizens.
