Mohamed Shareef, Maldives Ambassador to Sri Lanka, has said that Foreign Minister Dr. Mohamed Asim has to resign over accusations of sexual harassment.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a sexual harassment complaint filed against a senior official is being investigated by an internal committee.

Rumors first arose on social media that Minister Asim had harassed a female employee during an official trip last year.

Shareef, who is also registrar of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), said that a statement from the ministry is not enough and that it was best for Minister Asim.

Noting that the foreign ministry advocates against sexual harassment internationally, Shareef said that the police and other relevant authorities should thoroughly investigate any such complaints at the ministry.

He also suggested that Asim had an influence in drafting the ministry’s statement since it does not mention the name of the official being investigated.