Maldives ministers arrested over alleged ‘black magic’ on president

Two ministers who are charged with using witchcraft against Mohamed Muizzu previously worked with him

MALE:

Maldives police have arrested two serving ministers for allegedly performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, local media reported on Thursday.

Shamnaz Saleem, the state minister at the Environment Ministry, and her ex-husband Adam Rameez, who was serving as a minister at the President's Office, were taken into custody along with two others.

The police have not disclosed details about the reasons or the alleged performance of black magic.

While sorcery is not a criminal offence under Maldivian law, it does carry a six-month jail sentence under Islamic law.

Both Shamnaz and Rameez previously worked with President Muizzu as members of the Male City Council when he was serving as the city's mayor.

After Muizzu's election as President in November last year, Shamnaz was appointed as a state minister at the President's official residence and later transferred to the Environment Ministry.

The four accused have been remanded in custody for seven days, and Shamnaz has been suspended from her post at the Environment Ministry.

Neither the Maldives government nor the President's office has made any official comment on the issue.

In 2012, police cracked down on an opposition political rally in the Maldives after accusing organizers of throwing a "cursed rooster" at officers raiding their offices.

Traditional ceremonies and beliefs in black magic are widely practiced across the Maldivian archipelago.

However, the current case involving the arrest of two serving ministers for allegedly using witchcraft against the president appears to be unprecedented in the Maldives.