Maldives President condemns attempted assault on Malé Mayor during MDP protest
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has strongly condemned an alleged assault targeting Malé City Mayor Adam Azim during a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest in the capital on Friday night.
In a statement issued by the President’s Office after reviewing video footage of the incident, the President described the act as unacceptable and stressed that violence against elected officials must not be tolerated under any circumstances.
As the Mayor of Malé City is directly elected by the people, any form of assault or obstruction against him, or any other political leader, whether in their official duties or private life, is entirely unacceptable,
the statement read.
The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring public safety and maintaining an environment where citizens can live without fear.
The response follows an incident during the rally in which Mayor Azim was reportedly pushed in the chest by an individual while walking toward protesters.
People accompanying the mayor intervened and prevented further escalation.
Speaking to the media, Azim claimed he was targeted by a specific group and experienced chest pain following the encounter.
He further alleged that the incident was a planned attack linked to the government.
However, Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef firmly rejected the allegation, stating that the government was deeply surprised by the claim and had no involvement in the incident.
Shareef described the accusation as completely false and criticised what he called an irresponsible attempt to assign blame without evidence.
He also noted that neither the MDP nor the Malé City Council had formally reported the incident to the Maldives Police Service, despite its seriousness. Nonetheless, police have initiated an investigation after footage of the confrontation circulated on social media.
The spokesperson added that Mayor Azim is eligible for state-provided security in his official capacity, with authorities routinely assessing threats to senior public officials and providing protection when necessary according to spokesperson.
The incident has heightened political tensions in Malé, with growing calls for authorities to identify those responsible.
As of now, police have not issued an official statement on the case.
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