MDP’s Mandhy attacked with engine oil

Mariyam ‘Mandhy’ Zubair, a constant fixture at serial rallies being held in Male’ by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has been attacked with what appears to be engine oil.

Mandhy, who works in an administrative role at the MDP office, was attacked with oil by a group of individuals who followed her as she drove her motorcycle on Sunday night.

Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of MDP, took to social media platform X on early Monday to condemn the attack “carried out by cowardly individuals on our brave activist, Mandhy”.

“The people will not stand by and watch as the state’s systems are corrupted and this country is destroyed. Brave women will always rise up and lead. They will not back down out of fear. And certainly not from cowardly acts such as this. The government getting exposed and weakened faster than expected,” he said.

އެމްޑީޕީގެ ހިތްވަރުގަދަ ހަރަކާތްތެރިޔާ މަންދީއަށް ފިނޑި ބަޔަކު މިރޭ ދިން ހަމަލާ ކުށްވެރިކުރަން.
ދައުލަތުގެ ނިޒާމުތައް ހަރާބުކޮށް، މުޅި ގައުމު ފުނޑުފުނޑު ކޮށްލާއިރު ރައްޔިތުން ބަލާކަށް ނުތިބޭނެ.
ހިތްވަރުގަދަ ކަނބަލުން އަބަދުވެސް އިސްވެ ތެދުވާނެ.
ޔަގީނުންވެސް ބިރަކަށް ނުގުޑާނެ.… https://t.co/StApoJNzs4

— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) March 16, 2025

The attack comes after Mandhy drew criticism for suggesting during a rally last week that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided to ban vaping in Maldives last year because his 16-year-old son got caught vaping.

A legal representative of the first couple announced last weekend that they will be filing lawsuits against Mandhy, Fayyaz, as well as the MDP over the remarks.

Meanwhile, Mandhy is also being investigated by the police for possible violation of the Freedom of Assembly Act.