By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Maldives’ State Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Energy, Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, has been arrested for allegedly performing sorcery on the country’s president, Dr Mohamed Muizzu
“There have been reports that Shamnaz was arrested for performing black magic on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu,” Maldives news outlet, the Sun, reported.
Shamnaz, along with two other people, were arrested on 23 June in the country’s capital, Male.
According to AFP, Fathimath will be remanded for one week to assist the police in their investigations.
Fathimath’s arrest comes as the United Nations warned that Maldives could become uninhabitable by the end of this century due to rising sea levels
“Our world is hurtling past the 1.5-degree warming limit that a livable future requires, and with present policies, is careening towards 2.8 degrees — a death sentence for vulnerable countries,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in 2023.
With Fathimath leading a crucial role in Maldives’ efforts to fight climate change, the country’s police didn’t deny or confirm the report of her arrest, nor did they provide further information.
There were no statements issued from Fathimath’s side either.
Black magic is not a crime under Maldives’ penal code, however, it carries a six-month jail term under the country’s Islamic law
People residing in the Maldivian archipelago are known to practice traditional rituals, including black magic.
Often, people practice these rituals to either curry favours from supernatural entities or to curse their enemies