Home Minister Ali Ihusaan has defended the actions of prison officers who entered Adhadhu journalist Mohamed Shahzan's cell late at night with sledgehammers and crowbars to demolish his sleeping platform.
Shahzan had been jailed for 15 days after questioning President Mohamed Muizzu.
In an interview following his release on Eid day, Shahzan shared details of the inhumane treatment he endured in prison. This included officers entering his cell in the middle of the night to break apart the concrete sleeping platform.
Responding to the allegations in a post on X today, Ihusaan claimed that Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir—another Adhadhu journalist who was also detained for a news article—were treated the same as any other inmate. He claimed the issue arose because a mobile phone was discovered in the cell shared by the two journalists.
Ihusaan did not deny that Shahzan and Leevan were subjected to inhumane treatment.
"These actions are not targeted at specific inmates, nor are they carried out under the direction of any particular party. Furthermore, matters of this nature in prison are not decided by the President. During my tenure as Minister, the President has never given any instructions regarding such prison operations," Ihusaan said in his post.
Shahzan, who was released yesterday after 15 days in Maafushi Prison, provided a detailed account of the mistreatment he faced.
"Almost every night, large squads of prison officers armed with iron rods, sledgehammers, and crowbars would enter my cell. They demolished my sleeping platform and various parts of the walls, acting directly on the orders of President Muizzu," Shahzan said.
Shahzan was detained after posing questions regarding sexual harassment allegations directed at Muizzu. Leevan was detained for reporting on a court order that prohibited discussion of these allegations.
