President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu pledged to become a president who serves all Maldivians regardless of political ideology.
Before coming to power and after taking the oath of office, he repeatedly vowed to serve everyone equally.
"Regardless of their political views, every Maldivian citizen is equal. Their political views are not important to me. Every citizen, no matter how small or how big their community, is important to me," he said at a rally on March 9 to celebrate the victory secured in the Parliamentary election.
And that is exactly how President Muizzu must act. The Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to participate in political activities and the right to express their opinions. It is the responsibility of the President to ensure these rights and freedoms are given to the people. It is a duty upon President Muizzu.
However, that is not the current situation in Maldives. We are seeing repeated instances of people of opposition political ideology being fired from their government jobs for expressing their views. The government is discriminating against people based on the colour of their political parties. Rather than protecting the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, the government is trying to suppress them.
Maldivians who faced injustice by this government
Dismissal of Muliaage employees who met former First Lady
In December 2023, the government fired three employees of Muliaage for allegedly meeting Fazna Ahmed, wife of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
President Muizzu and his family had not even moved to the official presidential residence at the time of their dismissal.
Two female employees and a male employee were fired. One of them is the mother of a thalassemia patient.
"One woman who was laid off is the mother of a thalassemia child who needs a monthly blood transfusion. She is not a political employee," Fazna said.
Dismissal of Maldives National Party (MNP) State Minister
MNP is part of the government coalition. However, an MNP member was also dismissed by the government without any justification.
Hussain Ismail, who was the State Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, was sacked in February 2024.
Hussain, appointed to the post in January, was dismissed without stating a reason.
"At 9:30 last night, someone called me and said I had been sacked. Then I got a letter which said I was sacked under the powers given to the President under Article 115 [of the Constitution]. No reason was given," Ismail said.
Employee suspended for contesting on opposition ticket
Hassan Iad (Iadey), who contested the parliamentary elections on the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ticket, was suspended from his position at HDC in April 2024.
HDC said he was suspended pending a disciplinary case. However, HDC declined to provide details. Iad said he was fired "for political reasons"
“When I went out to office today after the [Eid] holiday, HR summoned me and gave me a letter. They did not give any further information. I don't know what case they are investigating,” Iad said.
“I believe this is a political move, this is political,” Iad added.
Zuhoor dismissed as HDC Chairman
Ahmed Zuhoor, who was appointed by the government as the head of HDC, was removed from the post of chairman and board in May 2024.
Zuhoor was not informed of the reason for his dismissal. But some reports say he was fired over a "political" issue.
Zuhoor previously served as a minister, Commissioner General of Customs and managing director of the State Electricity Company (STELCO). He also filled several posts in the previous Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) government.
Dismissal of employee for reciting Quran at MDP podium
Ahmed Shaain, an HDC employee, was fired for reciting the Holy Quran at an opposition MDP podium. He was fired in earlier in July 2024.
He was an operations officer at HDC. After the dismissal, HDC told some media outlets that he was fired for neglecting his duties.
However, an HDC official told Shaain that he was fired for political reasons. He had shared a recording of the phone call with Adhadhu.
"What can I do, bro? This is politics. This has nothing to do with me. You know, you wouldn't be the one to get fired like this if I had a choice. There are so many people who don't show up to work at all," the official was heard saying in the recording.
The HDC official added that the company lied to the media over Shaain's dismissal in order to save face.
Suspension from Fenaka for not supporting PNC candidate
Ahusan Hussain, who was the station manager of the Fenaka power station in Faafu Bilehdhoo, was suspended from his post on July 4, 2024.
Ahusan was suspended from his post while he was being forced to endorse the PNC candidate Bilehdhoo council president.
"While Ahusan's case is being investigated, they have not revealed anything about it. The only reason, everyone believes, is that he does not support the PNC candidate. Everyone knows that Ahusan does not support the candidate. Then his suspension came suddenly," an employee told Adhadhu on condition of anonymity due to fear of losing their job.
Minister Adam Rameez's sister removed from Fund Management Corporation
Suspended President's Office Minister Adam Rameez's younger sister was dismissed from the Maldives Fund Management Corporation (MFMC) board in July.
Aminath Sheeza Ahmed was appointed to the MFMC board in January this year. She was dismissed on the orders of the President's Office earlier this week.
Her brother Adam Rameez, who was President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's "right-hand man", has been on suspension for the past two weeks.
Rameez was suspended after the media reported the arrest of his ex-wife former State Minister at the Environment Ministry Shamnaz Saleem on June 23.
Adhadhu understands that the relationship between Rameez and Muizzu had soured before her arrest and Rameez had been "isolated" from the President.
Some people associated with Rameez have been transferred from their jobs since rumours of his isolation spread. A government official told Adhadhu that they included two people who were working in the police intelligence.
Empty promises
The President has broken many of his pledges before and after taking office.
These include his statement that he would not change the list of flats and land recipients, his promise not to lower the price of fish bought from fishermen, not to increase the number of political staff beyond 700 and to remove the Indian military from the country.
The President is also repeatedly violating his promise to serve the people equally. The President confidently assured the people during the parliamentary campaign that he would not discriminate against any citizen for political reasons.
"It doesn't matter to us which political ideology the people belong to. These things happen in the elections and campaigns. There will be competition, political verbal attacks and debates, those who did not vote for us, should be treated equally,” he said in Fuvahmulah in February.
Even after the People's National Congress (PNC) won the supermajority in the Parliament, the President promised not to look at any citizen from a political point of view.
"Every citizen is equal before me. No matter what party he belongs to, he is important to me. I have love and respect for each of them. So I will not discriminate against anyone. I will not take action against them based on their political views," he said on April 22.
This article was first produced in Dhivehi by Adhadhu's Hassan Mohamed.
