In a bizarre turn of events, Maldives Minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem has been suspended amid allegations of performing 'black magic' on President Mohamed Muizzu. The state minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Energy was arrested alongside her two siblings, as reported by local media.

The drama unfolded on June 23 when Shamnaz, along with the two other suspects, was taken into custody and remanded for seven days. According to Maldives-based Sun, Shamnaz, who was previously listed as a political appointee on the Environment Ministry's website, has now been moved to the list of former political appointees.

"Police are investigating a case involving Shamnaz and two other individuals," stated Chief Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan. However, the Maldives government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the situation.

Shamnaz previously served on the Male City Council with President Muizzu when he was the city's mayor. Following Muizzu's election to the presidency last year, Shamnaz resigned from the council, was appointed state minister at Muliaage, and later transferred to the Environment Ministry. Her role is particularly critical in a nation grappling with the severe impacts of the climate crisis, as UN environmental experts warn that rising sea levels could render the Maldives nearly uninhabitable by the century's end.

The Maldives has a murky history with black magic. In April 2023, a 62-year-old woman on Manadhoo was fatally stabbed by three neighbors who accused her of practicing sorcery. Despite an extensive investigation, police found no evidence to support the claim. In another strange incident in 2012, during a crackdown on an opposition political rally, police claimed that the organizers threw a "cursed rooster" at officers raiding their offices.

While sorcery is not a criminal offense under the penal code in the Muslim-majority Maldives, it does carry a six-month jail sentence under Islamic law. Traditional ceremonies aimed at winning favors or cursing opponents are still widely practiced across the archipelago.

The arrest and suspension of Shamnaz have stirred a mixture of disbelief and curiosity among the public, highlighting the ongoing clash between modern governance and traditional beliefs in the Maldives.

BOB Post