Muizzu administration acted in violation of established protocols regarding incident revolving around Iranian leader's assassination!
The government is facing widespread criticism for failing to follow official protocols regarding the death of a foreign head of state following the passing of the Iranian leader. Despite regulations mandating that the national flag be flown at half-mast to mourn the death of a leader from an Islamic nation, the government's silence has drawn concern from high-profile figures, including the former Vice President and the former Chief Justice. These officials characterized President Muizzu’s remarks on the matter as a violation of established legal and diplomatic norms.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei. | X | X
It has emerged that President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration acted in violation of established protocols following the assassination of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
On August 24, 1995, the President's Office issued a regulation outlining the official protocol to be followed upon the death of a foreign head of state with whom the Maldives maintains diplomatic relations.
According to the primary regulation governing official mourning following the death of a foreign leader with whom the Maldives maintains diplomatic ties, the passing of a Head of State from an Islamic nation or a SAARC member state requires a one-day public holiday and for the national flag to be flown at half-mast for a period of three days.
According to the regulations, the Maldives national flag shall be flown at half-mast for one day following the passing of a head of state from a non-Islamic nation or a country outside the SAARC region.
The regulations state that the national flag shall only be flown at half-mast upon the instruction of the President's Office.
The Maldivian government, representing a 100 percent Muslim nation, has faced widespread public criticism and indignation for its silence following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a major joint strike by Israel and the United States. When questioned by journalists regarding this stance, President Muizzu stated that in response to Iran's retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. military bases within Arab nations, he has been in communication with those countries to express solidarity on behalf of the Maldivian people.
Criticizing President Muizzu's remarks, former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed stated in a post on X that the President appeared to struggle significantly today in finding the words to address Israel's aggression.
"There is no greater crime than violating Iran's sovereignty without any justification and assassinating a Muslim leader in an attempt to undermine the nation's independence," Dr. Jameel stated.
In response to Muizzu's remarks, former Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi stated that the President's comments were incoherent and lacked legal or logical grounding.
"This is an illogical argument. The people elected you to govern within the boundaries of Islam, the Constitution, and the legal frameworks and principles established by law. There is no basis to characterize actions driven by personal discretion and self-interest as being carried out on behalf of the citizens."
The former Chief Justice stated that the Maldivian people are not to blame for President Muizzu’s failure to conduct international and diplomatic relations within constitutional frameworks. He asserted that the responsibility lies solely with the President himself and the incompetent, hypocritical officials tasked with advising him on international affairs.
