The State Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Energy in the Maldives, Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, was arrested on Sunday along with two others in the capital Male, according to police reports on Thursday. While police did not provide specific reasons for her arrest, local media outlets, including the Sun, have speculated that she was detained on allegations of performing "black magic" on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Sorcery is not defined as a criminal offense under the Maldivian penal code but carries a potential six-month jail term under Islamic law in this Muslim-majority nation. Traditional ceremonies believed to influence fortunes or harm adversaries, are widely practiced across the Maldives, reflecting cultural beliefs.
The arrest of Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem has stirred public interest, given the significance of her role in a country highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as rising sea levels threatening its habitability by the end of the century. The incident underscores the intersection of cultural practices and legal norms in the Maldives, where accusations related to sorcery occasionally intersect with legal and political spheres.
