Mocking national leaders with derogatory nicknames is an act against the nation: President Muizzu

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that creating and using derogatory nicknames against the nation's leaders is an act of hostility toward the country itself.

Speaking on the state media podcast "Nation Chat," President Muizzu highlighted the Maldives' status as a fully Islamic and unified nation. He asserted that any actions aimed at undermining or dismantling the country's core principles and values are acts against the nation itself. The President further noted that such attempts have occurred in the past, adding that the resulting damages from those instances remain evident.

President Muizzu has stated that despite various differences of opinion, no disagreement should ever take precedence over the national interest. He noted that such conflicts most frequently arise when individuals prioritize their own personal political agendas. The President further remarked that those driven by such motives are capable of spreading any narrative, even if it undermines the nation.

Opposing any initiative that benefits the nation is an act of betrayal against the country; it is an attempt to sabotage the tourism industry and destroy the fisheries sector. These were deliberate actions taken against the state to unravel our social fabric. We must remember how these activities were strategically orchestrated—the content published on various websites established under different names, the verbal assaults directed at our leaders, and the use of derogatory aliases to systematically tarnish their reputations.

President Muizzu

President Muizzu stated that any actions aimed at undermining the respect shown to leaders within society are acts against the nation. He further noted that it has been evident, both now and in the past, that some individuals are willing to go to any lengths in their pursuit of power and influence.

Furthermore, President Muizzu stated that acting against the nation is an act of betrayal toward the sacrifices made by the country's heroes to reclaim independence whenever it was lost. At the same time, the President emphasized that every falsehood written and every piece of fake news disseminated constitutes an act of defiance against the nation.

Despite President Muizzu’s recent remarks, his administration’s current leadership, while in opposition, frequently targeted then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih with derogatory nicknames and disseminated serious falsehoods against him. Furthermore, they actively campaigned against neighboring India, even parading effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the streets of Male' as part of a targeted antagonistic movement.