Maldives Minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem has been suspended following her arrest, along with her two siblings, on charges of performing “black magic” on President Mohamed Muizzu, according to local media reports.
The state minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Energy in the Maldives, Saleem, was arrested on June 23 along with two other suspects and remanded in custody for seven days.
Maldives-based Sun News reported that Shamnaz, previously listed as a political appointee on the Environment Ministry’s website, has now been moved to the list of former political appointees.
Chief Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan, told Sun, “Police are investigating a case involving Shamnaz and two other individuals.”
The Maldives government has yet to make an official statement on the situation.
Shamnaz previously served as a member of the Male City Council alongside President Muizzu when he was the city’s mayor.
Following Muizzu’s election to the President’s office last year, Shamnaz resigned from the council.
She was subsequently appointed as state minister at Muliaage and later transferred to the Environment Ministry.
In a nation grappling with the climate crisis, Shamnaz’s role is crucial. UN environmental experts have cautioned that rising sea levels could render the Maldives nearly uninhabitable by the end of the century.
Maldives’ history with alleged instances of black magic
In April 2023, a 62-year-old woman on Manadhoo was tragically stabbed to death by three neighbours who accused her of practicing black magic, according to Mihaaru news website reports.
After an extensive investigation, police stated they found no evidence to support the accusation of sorcery against the victim.
In another incident in 2012, during a crackdown on an opposition political rally, police claimed that organisers threw a “cursed rooster” at officers raiding their offices.
Sorcery is not considered a criminal offense under the penal code in the Muslim-majority Maldives. However, under Islamic law, it carries a penalty of six months’ imprisonment.
Throughout the archipelago, many people engage in traditional ceremonies, believing these rituals can bring blessings or inflict curses on adversaries.
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