Opposition activist Hussain Shafiu (Thuhthu) has told the police that a social media post on November 8 from his "Charlie_thuhthu" X account was not intended for any specific individual.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporter was summoned to the police at 1:30 pm today for a statement in connection with the social media post that allegedly caused public fear.
In his statement to the police, Shafiu said the post did not contain anything that could cause fear and that the police had attributed the word "Kazzab" used in the post to a specific individual.
"If any person had been alarmed because of the post, I pray for the speedy recovery of that person. The post doesn't contain anything that would create fear in anyone's heart. It is the police who have given a tone to my words. And it is also the police who have characterized Kazzab as a specific person," his statement read.
Shafiu acknowledged that he uses that X account under the name "Charlie_thuhthu". He refused to speak any further and chose to use the right to remain silent.
The charges;
- Penal code Section 120 - Assault - (a) A person commits an offense if he, without the consent of another person: (2) puts such person in fear of imminent bodily injury.
- Penal code Section 121 - Reckless endangerment - (a) A person commits an offense if he recklessly creates a substantial risk to another of serious bodily injury or death.
- Penal code Section 622 - Producing or Distributing Obscene Material - (a) A person commits an offense if, with knowledge of its obscene nature or content, he: (3) publishes, exhibits, or otherwise makes available anything obscene.
His defence attorney Ibrahim Shiyan told the media that the police had repeatedly asked him whom the threat was aimed at. However, police could not name any person who had been threatened, he added.
"The post was about a Kazzab. Who is Kazzab? The police could not say at all, the only thing the police said is that it [the post] is harmful to society," he said.
Opposition supporters, including MPs and MDP leadership, gathered near the police building and expressed concern over threats to free speech.
