President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has strongly condemned the attempted assault targeting Malé City Mayor Adam Azim during an Maldivian Democratic Party protest in Malé on Friday night, after personally reviewing video footage of the incident.
In a statement issued by the President’s Office, Muizzu described the act as unacceptable and stressed that violence against elected officials, or any political figure, cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
“As the Mayor of Malé City is directly elected by the people, any form of assault or obstruction against him, or any other political leader, whether in their official duties or private life, is entirely unacceptable,” the statement said.
The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining public safety and ensuring citizens can live without fear.
The response came after Mayor Azim reportedly suggested that the government may have been linked to the incident, an allegation Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef firmly rejected.
Shareef said the government was “deeply surprised” by the accusation and questioned the basis of the claim, insisting the administration had no involvement in the incident.
He described the allegations as “completely false” and said accusing the government without evidence was irresponsible.
The spokesperson also raised concerns that neither the MDP nor the Malé City Council had formally reported the incident to the Maldives Police Service, despite the seriousness of the matter.
He noted that police had nevertheless launched an investigation after footage of the confrontation surfaced on social media.
Shareef further stated that Mayor Azim is eligible for state-provided security due to his official role and said authorities regularly assess threats facing senior public officials, with protection arrangements made when necessary.
The incident has intensified political tensions in Malé, with authorities now facing pressure to identify those responsible as the police investigation continues.
