PNC lawmakers demand Fayyaz’ immediate arrest

Lawmakers from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) on Tuesday demanded the immediate arrest of Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), over remarks he made the previous day suggesting that people should do to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu what was done to former Maldivian president Mohamed Amin Didi.

During a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Fayyaz said that “brutality will be met with brutality”. He also said that Maldivian people will take “a play out of history books” in face of brutality.

He had made the remarks in response to questions regarding comments made during a recent MDP rally in Kulhudhuffushi City, when one of the speakers said that people should do to President Muizzu “what was done to Amin.”

“Mohamed Amin or Andhiri Andhirin. I don’t know. Stop being brutal towards the people. The Maldivian people will take a play out of history books when faced with brutality,” he said.

Amin served as the first president of the Maldives in 1953. He was deposed, gravely wounded following an attack by an angry mob, and later died while living in banishment.

Meanwhile, Andhiri Andhirin is the local name for Andreas Andre, a Portuguese captain who played a key role in helping Portugal capture the Maldives, and was later killed by Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam who liberated the country.

The remarks were condemned in an emergency motion filed by Milandhoo MP Hassan Mufeed Abdul Gadir with the Parliament on Tuesday morning.

During the debate on the motion, pro-government lawmakers accused Fayyaz of inciting terrorism and demanded his immediate arrest.

Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas, whose party the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) is aligned with the PNC, alleged that Fayyaz made the remarks to have President Muizzu killed and his administration overthrown in order to cover up alleged corruption during his time as economic minister during the MDP administration.

“Should an investigation be launched only after someone is killed? Or doesn’t calling for the murder of someone, or words and action that endanger a person’s life warrant an investigation? I demand that MDP chairperson Fayyaz be immediately arrested, investigated, and punished to the full extent of the law,” he said.

Abbas said that the MDP was making such attacks against the government because it is now in “bits and pieces.” He said the MDP wants to take to the streets and create unrest. He said that Fayyaz was just “tightening the noose around his neck.”

South Maafannu MP Abdulla Rifau (Bochey), a lawmaker from the PNC, accused the MDP of attempting to create unrest under the pretense of defending the Constitution.

He said that the remarks were a death threat against President Muizzu, and not how the opposition should operate.

He condemned such remarks and called for the immediate arrest of anyone who makes such comments.

“Honorable Speaker. I demand relevant authorities to immediately arrest and investigate any and everyone who make such remarks. This may create regrettable outcomes if left unattended,” he said.

He said that incitement to terrorism is a major criminal offense.

Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, the deputy leader of PNC’s parliamentary group, also accused the MDP of attempting to create unrest and destabilize the country.

He condemned Fayyaz’s remarks, but also alleged that such remarks were nothing new to MDP.  He said that the MDP had never cared about the people, but were a “nuisance” to them instead.

Shujau alleged that the remarks were part of a conspiracy by the MDP leadership to create fear within the community, and that the party wants to stop “everything good that President Muizzu is doing for this country.”

The uproar comes with the MDP set to hold a major rally in Male’ later on Tuesday, to make a stand against multiple allegations of constitutional violations by the government.