Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday night denied ever depriving any individual of their rights.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Fuvahmulah, Muizzu said he has never violated anyone's rights in the past and called for an investigation into any such allegations.
"I have never infringed on anyone's rights. I will never infringe either. I will never harm anyone," he said.
Muizzu said he did not object to an impartial investigation free of political influence if there were allegations against him.
"If there's a case, the official institutions should look into it. Look into it free of political influence, impartially and independently. If it is done that way, the truth will become more than clear," he said.
Muizzu went on to say that "personal attacks" were not campaigning, which he said should involve proposing a candidate's policies to the public.
"Making personal attacks is not campaigning. I am making proposals to the public. That's what I'm doing," he said.
The second round of the presidential election is due to take place next Saturday. Muizzu emerged as the frontrunner in the first round on September 9 with 46 percent of the vote. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came second with 39 percent of the vote.
Muizzu's remarks last night followed the release of an Adhadhu investigative documentary about his former Sri Lankan stepmother Gnei Skeelan's blacklisting and deportation from the Maldives.
The documentary featured interviews with the widow and presented evidence about her blacklisting.
Summary of the documentary:
- Skeelan and Muizzu's father Sheikh Hussain Abdul Rahman were married for 13 years
- Sheikh Hussain passed away on September 29, 2015
- Inheritance case submitted to the Family Court on October 11, 2015
- Case concluded on November 29, 2015
- Skeelan left the Maldives on January 12, 2016
- She returned on March 4, 2016 (she was blacklisted two days before that on March 2, 2016)
- Skeelan blames Muizzu
- Skeelan was blacklisted over alleged human trafficking
- No investigation conducted over the serious allegation
- No documents at the immigration department
- Skeelan says Muizzu's family cut all ties with her after she moved to Sri Lanka and blocked her on all messaging platforms
- Muizzu did not provide any assistance despite assurances of caring for her until death
