(Photo: File, All credits to original owner, Maldives youth demonstration)
Malé City, Maldives, 25 April 2025 – GSM News:
Journalists and public left with more questions than answers after detailed police briefing. Video footage appeared inconsistent with timestamps and ultimately police fessed up to editing video and audio, leading to more anger by public as trust in police is at an all time low.
The direction of investigation appeared more focused on the victim, her values, her clothes and her actions; this is alarming as the bias of investigators who appear to believe a person under influence of a cocktail of unknown drugs can consent to anything, even though she could not stand or walk straight. This is revealing in the fact that samples, statements, arrests were not performed in the critical window of time after the incident.
Police statements showed a preoccupation with victim’s body, size, and flexibility. This instead of fingerprints, rape kits, semen samples, blood toxicology or witness statements. The police appear to be struggling with evidentiary standards, the lack of survivor focused protocols, showing no regard for trauma methodologies.
Shockingly the briefing was interrupted by transport minister Mohamed Ameen calling the Commissioner of Police which was caught on an embarrassing hot mic moment.
All this came a little too late as the public, with the young generation leading the charge held a massive brave demonstrations in front of police buildings on the night of 23 April.
Finally, senior officials of the current Maldives president Mohamed implicated in the drug rape party faced first real consequences. The President’s Office Undersecretary, Digital Strategy Daud Ahmed and Undersecretary, Strategic Communication Izzidhaan Mohamed Muamoon were suspended and fired, this news hit strategically while the police briefing was ongoing. And later Raudh Ahmed Zilal, the main person of interest and last person to see the victim before the life threatening incident, has been arrested according to local media. Although police have announced individuals of interest have had their passports flagged, sources close to the persons of interest claim most of them have tried or already fled the country based on social media posts from their personal accounts.
Speaking to GSM News, young woman leader, survivor and activist Nuha Adam had this to say, “The paradise that protects predators: It would be safe to say that the Maldives has become a safe haven for sexual abusers who prey on the vulnerable. Behind the turquoise waters and luxury resorts lies a system that fails its survivors, a system that shields predators while silencing survivors.
One such case has shaken the nation: a 21-year-old woman was found left to die on a rooftop after allegedly being gang raped. Several pieces of evidence reportedly pointed to gang rape, yet justice remains distant, delayed and distorted.
What makes the Maldives a haven for rapists?
It’s the delayed rape kits that compromise crucial evidence.
It’s the closed door press conferences designed to twist the public narrative.
It’s the protection of perpetrators, their identities hidden, their faces blurred, while the victim lies in critical condition, bearing wounds that will scar her for a lifetime.
But perhaps the most damning element is power, the kind held by politicians and elites who cover up these crimes, who protect the abusers because they are their sons, their friends, their allies.
In this case, the alleged rapists all have highly influential connections. And in the Maldives, influence buys silence. It buys time. It buys freedom.
Justice here is not blind, it’s expensive. It’s a privilege reserved for the connected. For the rest, it’s a dream slowly rotting in the sun.
This little heaven of a country is poisoned, not by its people, but by the ones in power who think justice is optional.”
In a tone deaf move, the president Mohamed has spoken to media noting he is not interested in punishing youth for passionate mistakes. This was retracted and deleted from the media later.
Meanwhile, president Mohamed daughter Yasmine Mohamed Muizzu has taken to personal social media to defend suspected individuals. Raising public concerns about president Mohamed’s family influencing independent institutions such as the police.
Police have said in their briefing they will collect samples almost 5 days after the incident. It is unclear why the authorities waited so long. Experienced media professionals noted during the press briefing this delay creates the opportunity to erase evidence.
The victim continues to be treated at the hospital.
(Photo: File, All credits to original owner, Maldives youth protest)
