Shahid removed from MDP's National Majlis WhatsApp group

Former Foreign Minister and former President of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid, who is arrested in connection with a sexual assault case, has been removed from the Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) National Majlis WhatsApp group. The removal occurred yesterday, according to sources. Shahid, who also served as the party's president, was arrested last Friday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child. So far, MDP has not commented on the allegations or the arrest. The court has set a 30-day detention period for Shahid, and he has filed an appeal in the High Court to cancel the detention order. The 64-year-old is accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 18, specifically a 15-year-old. Shortly after his arrest, Shahid posted on social media denying the allegations, calling them politically fabricated stories aimed at assassinating his character.