Police in the Maldives have arrested a state environment minister, officers confirmed Thursday. Local media in the Indian Ocean nation reported that she was accused of performing “black magic” on the president.
Arrest of key official
State Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Energy, Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, was taken into custody on Sunday along with two others in the capital Male, according to police. She has been remanded in custody for a week pending investigations, though details regarding her arrest were not provided.
“There have been reports that Shamnaz was arrested for performing black magic on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu,” stated the Sun, a local media outlet. However, police have neither confirmed nor denied this report.
Shamnaz’s position is crucial in a nation at the forefront of the climate crisis, with UN environment experts warning that rising sea levels could render the Maldives virtually uninhabitable by the end of the century.
Cultural and legal context
While sorcery is not a criminal offense under the penal code in the Muslim-majority Maldives, it carries a six-month jail sentence under Islamic law. Traditional ceremonies aimed at winning favors or cursing opponents are widely practiced across the archipelago.
In April 2023, a 62-year-old woman was stabbed to death by three neighbors on Manadhoo after being accused of conducting black magic ceremonies. The Mihaaru news site reported that a lengthy police investigation failed to find any evidence that the murder victim performed sorcery.
Historical incidents
In 2012, police cracked down on an opposition political rally, accusing organizers of throwing a “cursed rooster” at officers raiding their offices.
The arrest of Shamnaz and the allegations surrounding it underscore the ongoing cultural and legal complexities within the Maldives regarding traditional practices and modern governance.