Nasheed to President: Don’t drag your feet, save Maldives

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed has called on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to stop dragging his feet, and rise up to save Maldives from its current predicament.

Speaking via social media app Clubhouse on Saturday night, Nasheed, who is in Germany undergoing treatment for injuries he sustained in an IED attack last May, said that the government has immense work at its table, and that the current situation requires for mass arrests.

“I want to make it clear to the President, to do this fast without dragging your feet. You need to rise up to save Maldives,” he said.

Nasheed said the government needs to take immediate action on a number of fronts.

He said that Maldives needs to get ahead of the dangers it faces, even if it requires mass arrests.

Nasheed said that while people are entitled to higher education and employment opportunities, their right to life and safety remains their most fundamental right.

“Safety is the most fundamental right. I have always had to advocate for that right, to safeguard that right,” he said.

Nasheed said he never expected he would have to advocate for the arrest of dangerous individuals, but remains committed to doing whatever is necessary for the safety and protection of the Maldivian community.

A homemade remote-controlled IED was strapped to motorcycle parked nearby Nasheed’s residence, and was detonated at 08:27 pm on May 6, just as Nasheed, 54, exited his residence and went to get in his car. Nasheed was thrown to the ground and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, while three members of his security detail and two bystanders sustained minor wounds.

He was rushed to ADK Hospital, where he underwent multiple lifesaving surgeries to remove ball bearings and other shrapnel, some of which perforated his internal organs.

He was transferred to a military hospital in Germany on May 13.

Police are treating the May 6 blast as a targeted terror attack to assassinate Nasheed. They have made three arrests in connection to the case: Ahmed Adhuham Rasheed, 26, Hiyaa, GDh. Thinadhoo; Mujaz Ahmed, 21, Ma. Feyruge, K. Male’; and Thahmeen Ahmed, 32, Folheyma, GA. Kondey. Adhuham is believed to be the man who detonated the IED.

Nasheed’s party, MDP has announced he is expected to return to Maldives in July.