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Monday 17 Mar 2025
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih addresses a rally in ADh. Dhigurah on September 7, 2023. (Photo/MDP)
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has condemned the attack on Mariyam ‘Mandhy’ Zubair, an activist from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), describing it as a cowardly act to intimidate critics of the government’s poor policies.
Mandhy, who works in an administrative role at the MDP office, was attacked with what appears to be engine oil by a group of individuals who followed her as she drove her motorcycle on Sunday night.
The attack came 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.
In a post on X on Monday morning, Solih strongly condemned the attack on Mandhy.
“This cowardly act was carried out to silence the voice of the people and intimidate everyone who criticized the government’s poor policies,” he said.
އެމްޑީޕީގެ އިސް ޚިދުމަތްތެރިއެއް ކަމަށްވާ މަންދީ ޒުބައިރަށް ބިރުދައްކައި ކަޅުތެޔޮޖަހައި ދިން ހަމަލާ އެންމެ ހަރުކަށި އިބާރާތުން ކުށްވެރިކުރަން.
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) March 17, 2025
މި ފިނޑި އަމަލަކީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ އަޑު ކަނޑުވާލައި ސަރުކާރުގެ ދޯދިޔާ ސިޔާސަތުތަކަށް ފާޑުކިޔާ އެންމެންނަށް ބިރުދެއްކުމަށް ކުރި ކަމެއް.…
Solih said that the MDP will not back down in face of such acts of intimidation and pressure, and will continue the peaceful political activities the MDP is carrying out for the sake of the people.
A legal representative of the first couple announced last weekend that they will be filing lawsuits against Mandhy, MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail and the MDP itself over the remarks.
Mandhy is also one of 10 MDP members being investigated by the police over the serial protests. The other nine are:
