The Maldives State minister for environment, climate change and energy, Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, was arrested on Sunday for conducting a “black magic” ritual against President Mohamed Muizzu, local media reports said.
According to the edition.mv, police arrested her and two others on “charges of sorcery, and are currently conducting a criminal investigation into the matter.”
“Police Spokesperson Ahmed Shifan confirmed today that an investigation is being conducted into charges against Shamnaz and two other individuals,” it said.
The Press.mv, however, said the three were arrested “for performing black magic to get politically closer to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.”
But neither the Maldives government nor the President’s office has made any official comment on the black magic case so far.
Shamnaz is the ex-wife of Adam Rameez, a Minister at the President’s Office. According to the sun.mv, Rameez too has been suspended and arrested.
Police in the Maldives have arrested a state environment minister, officers said Thursday, with media in the Indian Ocean nation reporting she was accused of performing "black magic" on the president.https://t.co/VJyPglW4ZV
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 27, 2024
The police reportedly raided Shamnaz’s home and confiscated items that “may have been used for a ritual.”
One report said that although “Black magic” is proscribed under Islamic law, ‘Sihuru’ or ‘fandita’ as it locally known, is widely practiced across the archipelago.
Shamnaz was a member of the Male’ City Council when Dr Muizzu was the mayor, but quit after he was elected President in November 2023. She then had a brief stint at the Official Residence of the President before being named State minister for climate change, environment and energy.
This was a critical Cabinet post given that rising seas due to climate change could make the country virtually uninhabitable by the end of the century, media reports said.
One report said that although “Black magic” is proscribed under Islamic law, ‘Sihuru’ or ‘fandita’ as it locally known, is widely practiced across the archipelago.
According to a August 2018 report in the Maldives Independent, “there was a surge of suspected sorcery ahead of the 2013 presidential election, including a cursed coconut and black magic doll at a polling station.
“The use of cursed coconuts was also alleged in court after the 2014 parliamentary elections,” it said.
“Belief in sorcery and black magic… is common in the Maldives. Fanditha is allowed for licensed parties under a 1978 law. Sihuru, enlisting demons to harm others, while not illegal is unauthorised and considered taboo,” the report said.
