Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi has drawn heavy criticism after she ridiculed an opposition activist who was detained and deported by Indian Immigration last week.
Speaking at the MDP rally held last night to hand over its Presidential Ticket to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Defence Minister Mariya recounted the head of the PPM's Hulhlhumale branch Abdul Samad's recent trip to India with his family.
The Minister described Samad as a flag bearer in the opposition's protests against the Indian Military presence in the Maldives and said that he shaved off his beard and flew to India with his family. She said then we saw him come back and speak in front of the camera and cry a little.
She cited him as saying that he had spent his life within the Military and police ranks but insinuated that he came home crying after spending time in an airconditioned room under Indian Immigration authority. She added that these were the people out protesting.
But many have criticized the Defence Minister for making fun of a civilian who was mistreated at the hands of a foreign immigration body.
Leader of Maldives National Party Mohamed Nazim said on Twitter that it is beneath the dignity of a minister, especially the Defence Minister, to make fun of a fellow citizen’s suffering in public. He said that Minister Mariya should offer a public apology to Samad for her incivility and lack of respect for her constitutional obligations.
He also reminded the Minister that an extreme cold is a form of torture and that as a lawyer she should be aware of it.
Former Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed also criticized the Minister and questioned her upbringing.
Others on Social Media have labeled the Minister as a mouthpiece for India and have called for her immediate resignation.
Samad was detained by Indian Immigration authorities for no apparent reason and held in their custody for some time before being deported back to the Maldives. Upon his return, Samad recounted his harrowing ordeal saying that he was kept under detention for 18 hours without any questioning and that Indian authorities informed him that it was prohibited for him to travel to and from India.
He said that the Indian authorities did not inform him of what he had done wrong and only that his crime was supporting former President Abdullah Yameen.
