The Civil Court has decided against open hearings in First Lady Sajidha Mohamed's lawsuit against opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist Mariyam Zubair (Mandhy).
Sajidha's lawyer has requested that the hearings be broadcast live. However, Judge Faisal Adam decided against open hearings as the case involves the interest of a minor.
Sajidha sued Mandhy, MDP and the party's Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, under the Child Rights Protection Act for allegedly accusing her son, Umeir Mohamed Muizzu, of vaping. The court has decided to conduct the three hearings together.
At the first hearing, Sajidha's lawyer Aishath Azima Shukoor requested hearings be broadcast live. But, she also requested that the hearings be held behind closed doors if they cannot be broadcast live.
Mandhy was the first to be accused of speaking about Umeir during an MDP gathering. However, Mandhy did not name any of the first couple's children during her remarks.
Umeir's name was first mentioned during a press conference by Azima on behalf of Sajidha.
MDP has accused Sajidha of trying to silence the opposition. Mandhy and another MDP member were summoned to the police over the case. Two members of the opposition People's National Front (PNF) were also summoned.
