Abdullah Shahid Expelled from MDP WhatsApp Group After Child Abuse Arrest

Former Foreign Minister and former Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Abdullah Shahid, has been expelled from the Maldives Democratic Party’s (MDP) National Council WhatsApp group on suspicion of sexually abusing a child. Shahid, who also served as MDP President, was removed from the party’s National Council members’ WhatsApp group at some point today. A senior MDP official stated that Shahid had been removed from the WhatsApp group and explained that this is standard procedure in such cases, adding that the move was taken for security reasons. However, the MDP has not yet made any specific statement regarding the case for which Shahid was arrested. The case involving allegations that Shahid abused a child surfaced, leading to his arrest late last Monday night. When presented to court to decide on his detention, he was ordered to be held for 30 days. In a police statement issued in connection with the case, it was stated that Shahid was arrested under a court order on suspicion of sexually abusing a child under the age of 18. The 64-year-old Shahid, who also served as President of the UN General Assembly, was arrested from his apartment at Rainbow Ocean Front in Hulhumalé, where he resides. The apartment was cleared, and he was first taken by police vehicle to the police headquarters in Hulhumalé. Subsequently, he was transferred to the police custody center in Dhoonidhoo. Shortly before his arrest, Shahid posted on X, stating that rumors about politically motivated attempts to assassinate him were baseless lies. While accusations of sexual abuse against a child are being leveled against Shahid, who holds the title of Nishan Izzuddeen, he is currently campaigning to secure the MDP ticket for the 2028 presidential election. Shahid has appealed the court order that led to his arrest in the High Court.