Maldives President Confronted By Diaspora In Kl Amid Protests At Home

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A meeting between Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and the island republic’s diaspora in Malaysia took an unexpected turn last night when he was confronted with questions related to youth-led protests back home.
ADSAmong those in attendance was the elder sister of Hawwa Yumnu Rasheed, a 21-year-old Maldivian student who is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur for extensive injuries sustained from an alleged fall through a window of an apartment.
Hawwa’s brother-in-law, Mohamed Muimin, told Malaysiakini that the sister, who declined to be named for safety reasons, had “confronted” Muizzu with questions over alleged “cover-ups” linked to the incident.
According to Muimin, Hawwa’s sister also directed questions to Maldives’ Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusaan, who oversees the country’s police force.
“They had a very bad attitude. Especially the home minister.
“With a smirk, he (Ali) said ‘It was me who released the video’,” claimed Muimin, referring to CCTV footage from an apartment building in the capital Malé where Hawwa was last seen on April 18.
In the pre-dawn incident, Hawwa was found sprawled facedown and unconscious on the roof of a warehouse adjacent to the apartment building, where authorities claimed she had “fallen” from the ninth floor through an open window.
When met at the hospital where Hawwa is currently receiving treatment, her cousin Ageela Naeem showed Malaysiakini photographs from the scene, as well as CCTV footage.
Contrary to the authorities’ version of events, Ageela pointed to an image of the window, hinged at the top and opened upwards, with a fixed lower pane.
“It is impossible for Hawwa to have accidentally fallen out of the window and landed on the roof.
“The window also faces away from the roof, and if she had fallen from there, she would have hit the ground in the narrow alley,” she said.
Conflicting accounts of the incident have sparked youth-led protests, following a report that the police, on April 24, concluded Hawwa’s fall was accidental, despite widespread speculation online alleging sexual assault and foul play.
ADSUpon Hawwa’s admission to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in the Maldives, Ageela said family members requested a medical evaluation to determine whether she had been sexually assaulted.
“But no such procedure was carried out, and so the claim cannot be proven,” she said, while Muimin alleged further cover-up attempts by authorities.
Transferred to M’sia
Muimin, who has lived in Malaysia for over a decade with his wife, another of Hawwa’s elder sisters, said the family later arranged for Hawwa’s transfer to the hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
While declining to disclose Hawwa’s current condition, citing privacy and safety concerns, Muimin said she is scheduled to undergo several surgical procedures not available in the Maldives.
“Typically, patients requiring such procedures will be referred to hospitals in India, but because we are here (in Kuala Lumpur), we chose to fly her here,” he said.
Malaysiakini previously sighted a letter signed by the Malaysian hospital’s medical services and liaison head, which stated Hawwa’s clinical diagnosis includes multiple fractures and haemorrhage.
It is understood that the diagnosis refers to internal bleeding between the brain and its surrounding membrane, as well as bone fractures in the neck, ribs, thigh, and groin areas.
In the hours leading up to their departure to Kuala Lumpur on April 26, Ageela said the family turned to social media to raise urgent funds in addition to a government contribution of US$25,000 (RM108,000).
“All the money, the public raised in 90 minutes. It was very stressful for us as we had to prepare everything.
“I booked my ticket at 5.45pm, my departure was at around 9pm, and so I had barely an hour to be at the airport,” recalled Ageela.
“But when we arrived here, it was amazing. We know how much the (Maldivian) public hated the government for what it did to us.
“This time, the people of Maldives (in Malaysia) really took care of us, helping us to care for our sister,” added Muimin.
Maldives sets up commission
Following mounting pressure, Muizzu on April 27 issued a presidential decree to establish a three-member independent commission of inquiry to probe the case.
Subsequent protests against the commission’s composition prompted the addition of two more members, including a woman.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Muizzu was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Islamic Leadership and Madani Development by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) earlier today, in recognition of his contributions to leadership and nation-building.
The honorary degree was presented by Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, IIUM’s constitutional head, at a special convocation at its Gombak campus.
In his acceptance speech, Muizzu expressed gratitude for the honour and highlighted the importance of leadership rooted in justice, innovation, and human capital development in elevating Islamic nations globally. -Mkini

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