Pres. blames MDP for Yumnu’s fall, cites political influence

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has blamed the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for the incident where a young woman fell from a house after gathering with a few other young adults who worked to bring him to power.

Some young adults who were seen on social media under the name "Up to Mother" were actively involved in President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's presidential campaign, and some of them were given senior political positions at the President's Office as well. The “party” held Friday night at the residence of Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen, Maandhooge Dhekunuge, reportedly involved drugs, Ameen’s two nephews, and several politically connected individuals including the former President of the Maldivian Youth National Advisory Committee appointed by President Muizzu, as well as two senior officials from the President’s Office known for supporting and promoting the current administration.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has also revealed that Raud Ahmed Zilal, a youth who used drugs and attended the party, was involved in the fall of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, 21.

Several young adults have been holding massive gatherings against the current administration, saying that the influence of family members of political figures and political parties is involved in Yumnu’s case.

A week after the incident, and after several people asserted that the current administration is influencing the case, the president blamed the issue on the main opposition party, while speaking at the ceremony of the 92nd anniversary of the police institution, held on Thursday night.

Taking the podium at the ceremony, the president said that there is no need to give opportunities to individuals attempting to pursue political agendas within the community. Referring to the ongoing tragic incident, he emphasized that the greatest responsibility lies with those who, years ago, actively promoted the idea that partying without fear was something to be embraced, an assertion he said anyone who values justice would agree with.

Even when considering the tragic, very tragic incident that has happened, the biggest responsibility should be taken, I believe, and as anyone who loves justice would agree, by those who promoted years ago that partying without fear is something that must be done. Those who encouraged saying that our noble Islamic religion, the limits, measures, principles, and rules set in religion are not that important, party. Do whatever you want in your youth. Those people who gave that encouragement, coming out today for a political purpose, misusing those youth, we need to open our eyes and look. We need to open our eyes and look. Those youth went that way, pushed in a political current. As a result of the work done to take this country out of the principles and rules of the noble Islamic religion that exists in this country and the beautiful customs that exist among us, and take it in a different direction. It is not right to bring the beloved Maldivian people into the attempt to gain political advantage by using youth who have been victimized in it."

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Mocking the youth who came out to seek justice for Yumnu, the president said that those youth are “caught in a political current”.

In connection with the incident where the 21-year-old woman fell from H. Fentenoy onto the roof of an adjacent house, the profiles of eight people suspected of partying under the influence that night have been publicized along with CCTV footage.

Among these people are Izdiyaan Mohamed Maumoon, nephew of Transport Minister Ameen and who was dismissed from the position of Under Secretary for Strategic Communications at the President's Office on suspicion of partying under the influence while holding a position at the President's Office, and Yoosuf Ahmed Akram, 22, also a nephew of Ameen.

In addition to this, Raud Ahmed Zilal, who is suspected of involvement in Yumnu's fall, Aishath Layaali Iqbal, Yoosuf Yassaar Abdul Gafoor, Aminath Junaida Jamsheed, Hussain Hamees Ali and Ijaaz Jaaiz are also involved.