MP Haleem: Nasheed faces threat of possible suicide attack

Bilehdhoo MP Ahmed Haleem (Dhonbileh) said on Tuesday that Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed is at risk for a possible suicide attack. 

Haleem, an MDP parliamentarian, made the statement after taking a point of order at the parliamentary sitting on Tuesday morning. 

Haleem said Nasheed, who narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on May 6, continues to be at risk for further attacks. 

“He remains overseas because he continues to receive threats of suicide attacks nonstop, and because he is well informed regarding this, and believes he will not be safe if he returns to Maldives,” he said. 

Haleem alleged that the culprits behind the assassination attempt on Nasheed remain free. However, the police made 10 arrests in connection to the case. Charges have been filed against four suspects, while one suspect was released from custody due to lack of sufficient evidence. 

At the parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, Haleem said that Nasheed’s statements are often deemed too outlandish, but prove true in the end. 

“We ourselves believe he is someone who says things our minds refuse to accept. Some of the things he says sometimes we find to be a great joke. We even make fun. But in the end, it always proves true,” he said. 

Haleem’s comments regarding Nasheed being threatened with a suicide attack comes a day after another MDP parliamentarian, Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb said Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla and a number of other parliamentarians were being targeted for attacks.