The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) is seeking charges at the Criminal Court against a group of extremists for recruiting Maldivians to go to jihad in Syria.

According to the PGO, charges were raised against six persons accused of promoting extremist ideologies under the guise of Islam and recruiting people to participate in the Syrian civil war. The accused six are Ibrahim Jihad of Gul Alaage, Raa atoll, Madduvari, Hassan Raazee of Mira, Raa atoll, Madduvari, Hassan Siyad and Adam Suhail of Mizan, Raa atoll, Madduvari, as well as Ibrahim Shibuny of Gahaa, Noonu atoll Manadhoo and Mohamed Maujoodh of Saeedha Manzil, Raa atoll, Madduvari.

Out of the accused, Ibrahim Jihad, Hassan Raazee, Hassan Siyad, Adam Suhail and Ibrahim Shibuny have been charged with aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (10/1990).

Ibrahim Jihad, Hassan Raazee and Adam Suhail are also accused of possessing documents promoting terrorism, while Mohamed Maujoodh is accused of possessing a photograph promoting terrorism.

Additional charges were pressed under the penal code against Hassan Raazee for the creation and possession of pornography.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) began a joint operation with the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) in Maduvvari island on 18th December 2019 after reports of a 13-year-old child "bride" from the island emerged in late November last year.