Lip service, unconcerned; says Maldives ex-Pres. Maumoon over treatment of son

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, former President and father to now jailed Dhiggaru Constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon, has fired back at local and foreign parties over the treatment meted to his son.

In a series of tweets on Friday night, the former strongman criticized Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), Parliament and foreign nation for their feigned interest in the issue.

In the first tweet, he said that MP Faris had been in arbitrary detention for over a month. He delivered a resounding ‘absolutely not’ for the question whether if Parliament or HRCM cared about it.

In the second tweet, he questioned if the international community care. It was met with another ‘absolutely not’, followed by him stating that it was ‘only lip service’.

MP Faris was arrested on July 18 on charges of attempted bribery of his fellow Parliamentarians. Criminal Court sentenced that he be detained for the duration of investigation and trial.

The court ruling mandating his detention stated that following the amendment of Parliament rules on April 17th, which mandated that 42 MPs must sign any no confidence motions, MP Faris had attempted to bribe his fellow Parliamentarians.

Court order authorizing his arrest stated that MP Faris could impact the investigation, alter evidence and intimidate witnesses.

The opposition had described his arrest and detention as politically motivated.

The lawmaker spearheaded the no confidence motion on Parliament Speaker Abdullah Maseeh.