Former Deputy Minister Arrested for Facebook Post Inciting Arson at State Institutions

Police have arrested former Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan for a Facebook post encouraging arson at the Supreme Court, the President's Office, and the People's Majlis. The post, which he later deleted, described the act as 'fun' and was published on his Facebook page. Police confirmed the arrest today, stating he was taken into custody from his home island, Fuvahmulah City. The offense falls under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which criminalises incitement to terrorist acts such as arson. Zihan previously served as a naval architect in the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and was dismissed in mid-2023 under the MDP government. He later served as Deputy Minister of Transport in the current government until he was removed from the post in 2024. Following his dismissal, he frequently posted criticism of the government.