Police return activist's phone after video leak

Oct 13, 2025, 12:43 PM
Zaya at the October 3 rally (second right). -- Photo: Mirash Nashim/ Adhadhu

Zaya at the October 3 rally (second right). -- Photo: Mirash Nashim/ Adhadhu

Police have released the phone of opposition activist Fathimath Zahiyya (Zaya).

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) member Zaya's phone was seized in connection with a Facebook post on October 7.

On Sunday, she accused the police of leaking her private videos after confiscating her phone.

The device was with the police when an anonymous X account began leaking the videos. Two videos were posted before the account was suspended.

Zayaa told Adhadhu that this was done by the police.

"Two days before the police confiscated my phone, I got a notification because someone was trying to log in to my Snapchat... This is done by the police. This happened after they took my phone," she said.

Last week, police leaked private photos of 20-year-old activist Aishath Shimon Ahmed in the same manner through an anonymous X account, which was later suspended.

Shimon's phone was released on Sunday and the police said they no longer have any accusations against the influential youth leader.

But they told Zaya that she would be contacted within two days for a statement.

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