Man repeats death threat against Nasheed in court, jailed for one month

Ismail Yasif, 40: He was arrested for a social media threat against Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed on August 23, 2021.

The suspect arrested for threatening to do to Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed “what was done to Abu Jahl” on social media has been sentenced to jail for contempt of court again, after he repeated the threat in court.

The suspect – Ismail Yasif, 40 - was arrested from R. Meedhoo on August 23.

He was sentenced to jail for 15 days for contempt of court, when presented before the R. Ungoofaaru Court for his remand hearing on August 24.

Yasif was presented before the Criminal Court to decide on an extension to his remand period this Wednesday. At the hearing, Yasif issued another threat against Nasheed, and was sentenced to one month in jail for contempt of court.

He repeated his death threat against Nasheed, again, even after Judge Ali Adam issued his sentence.

The original threat against Nasheed was made via Facebook.

“If you return to Maldives, we will do to you what was done to Abu Jahl in Day of Badr,” threatened Yasif, referring to a Meccan polytheist pagan leader who was killed in the Battle of Badr in 624.

Nasheed is currently in the United Kingdom recovering from injuries he sustained in an IED attack on May 6. He requested the Parliament to extend his leave in August, citing hesitancy to return to Maldives until the culprits behind the attack are brought to justice.

The case is under further investigation by the police.