The Maldives, the island nation in the Indian Ocean known for its beaches and generally enjoying political stability, is currently rocked by bizarre accusations of black magic involving high-ranking officials.
Last Sunday, the Maldives police arrested two ministers, along with two other individuals whose identities have not been disclosed, for allegedly casting spells on the country’s president, Mohamed Muizzu.
Fathima Shamnaz Ali Saleem, a state minister at the Ministry of Environment, and her former husband, Adam Rameez, a minister in the president's cabinet, are among those detained, as reported by Times of India.
The police have not revealed specific details regarding the nature of black magic or the evidence that led to the arrests, but the case has garnered significant attention.
According to Liberation, Fathima Shamnaz Ali Saleem is accused of casting a spell on the President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, in order to secure another government position. The police have not yet confirmed the reasons for her detention.
Shamnaz Saleem and Adam Rameez were both prominent figures in Maldivian politics. Shamnaz served on the City Council of the capital alongside President Muizzu when he was the mayor of Male.
After Muizzu's election as president in November 2023, Shamnaz was appointed as a state minister at Muliaage, the president's official residence, before being transferred to the Ministry of Environment.
As for Adam Rameez, her former husband, known to be a close associate of Muizzu, he had disappeared from the public scene in the last five months.
Four days after her arrest, Shamnaz was suspended from her position as a state minister at the Ministry of Environment. On the same day, Rameez was also suspended from his position in the president's cabinet.
Accusations of black magic have stirred a mix of shock and disbelief among the public in the Maldives. The practice of sorcery is not anecdotal or surprising in this island nation. Residents commonly perform traditional ceremonies, believing they will gain favors or cast spells on their adversaries.
Black magic, although part of the folklore of many cultures, is rarely associated with modern political scandals. The case has raised questions about the influence of traditional beliefs in contemporary politics and to what extent they can affect governance, as reported by Times of India.
President Mohamed Muizzu has not made any official statements regarding the arrests or accusations, leaving the public and the media to speculate. The lack of official communication has only fueled rumors, increasing uncertainty surrounding this case.
With palm trees, turquoise waters, and luxury hotels, the Maldives are highly popular among tourists, especially the very wealthy, but NGOs regularly denounce human rights abuses in this country. According to Amnesty International, "the police have regularly used force illegally to suppress demonstrations, and human rights defenders have faced reprisals."
In the archipelago, two distinct legal systems coexist. Witchcraft is not punished under the Penal Code. But in this country where Islam is the state religion, in accordance with Islamic law (Sharia), casting spells is punishable by six months in prison.
While awaiting the investigation's verdict, the Maldives has been deprived of its state secretary for climate change at a time when the archipelago is on the front lines of global warming. Rising sea levels could make the country practically uninhabitable by the end of the century, according to UN environmental experts.