Former MP Mustafa Claims Sexual Assault Accusations Against Shahid Were Fabricated

Former Maldives Parliament member for Thimarafushi constituency, Mohamed Mustafa, has said that sexual assault is not comparable to former Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid's family, speaking in defense of Shahid, who has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child. In a post shared on X, Mustafa alleged that the accusations against Shahid were fabricated by some people and pinned on him. He stated that this vile and unforgivable crime being pinned on Shahid was not something that would be seen from Shahid himself or his family members, and suspected that this was a coordinated plot carried out by certain individuals. Mustafa said, "The vile and unforgivable crime being pinned on Abdullah Shahid is not at all similar to Shahid. Nor is it similar to his family members. This is being done by Zifleena and Abdulla Hasheen, along with other people." Mustafa stated that after spending three lakh US dollars and an additional five hundred thousand rufiyaa to buy an apartment for Zifleena, she did such a vile act by seducing her own child. Shahid was arrested in connection with allegations of sexually abusing a female child under the age of 18 while holding a position of trust. This marks the first time in the country's history that a person who has held such a high state office has been arrested on suspicion of such a crime. During an online hearing held in the Criminal Court to decide on the bail status of Shahid, who is currently detained on Dunihurfushi Island, the court ordered that he be kept in detention for a period of 30 days. Apart from confirming that Shahid was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child while holding a position of trust, the police have not officially disclosed any further details regarding this case.