Ibra files defamation charges against the Supreme Court of the Maldives

Ibrahim “Ibraa” Ismail, Political Advisor to the President and one of the prominent leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has today filed defamation charges against the Supreme Court of the Maldives.

Ibraa filed a lawsuit with the Civil Court, claiming that a public Statement recently issued by the Supreme Court, in response to the statements of Ibraa at an MDP gathering a few days ago, “harmed his reputation among the people”.

Speaking at an MDP gathering at K. Thulusdhoo on the 2nd of this month, Ibraa had said that judges in the Maldivian law courts made judgments “in accordance with their whims and caprices” and that the “only way in which judges could be brought back on track is for the people to go out there and do it by themselves”.

Three days later, on the 5th, the Supreme Court issued a Statement saying that committing any actions to drive the country into a constitutional void was in itself a violation of the Constitution, and that undermining the dignity of the Courts and Judges of the Maldives was an illegal course of conduct.

Speaking to the press after submitting necessary forms to the Civil Court today, Ibraa said that the Supreme Court had a duty to take every factor into due consideration before targeting such a public statement against a private individual. He also said that issuing such a statement without being sure of the truth of the allegations would deprive the Supreme Court of the right to be at the helm of establishing justice in the country.

“A statement about a private individual should only be published after due consideration is made into the matter. They should find appropriate evidences to justify their position. Otherwise, the Supreme Court has no right to identify itself as the highest authority of justice, in my opinion”, said Ibraa.

Ibraa also claimed that Supreme Court Statement purported to narrow the scope of the freedom of expression. “Judges have gone on doing such things, and it is now a communal duty to bring such an action against them, and that is why I have filed the charges”, said Ibraa.

Ibraa said that he had rendered great services to the people of the Maldives and thereby won the hearts of many, and that the Statement of the Supreme Court would work to denigrate his personality in the eyes of the people. He said that he had filed the charges “against the Supreme Court, and not against the Judges of the Supreme Court”.