The Criminal Court, on Saturday, remanded the individual accused of perpetrating psychological, physical and sexual abuse against a woman and her three daughters while confined to a house under the premise of Ruqya (exorcism).
Initially remanded for a 14-day period, the 24-year-old was was remanded until the end of the investigation and trial.
In addition to subjecting the family to other forms of abuse, the Ruqya practitioner is accused of sexually assaulting the woman’s seven-year-old daughter.
The second individual arrested over the case, the woman's husband, is accused of both supporting the acts and taking part in some of them. The 34-year-old was remanded until the end of the investigation.
Speaking to local media outlet Mihaaru, the 30-year-old woman revealed that the four females were confined to her husband's house in August with a man from the island that practised Ruqya.
She stated that her husband told her that he believed her migraines to be the result of supernatural possession by 'jinn'.
Ruqya, sometimes referred to as Fanditha in the local Dhivehi language, is an Arabic term that refers to a 'mystical' practice exercised by certain Muslims, for the purpose of repairing 'damage' that is believed to be caused by jinn possession, witchcraft (Sihr) or the evil eye.
According to the woman, the Ruqya practitioner claimed that a jinn had possessed her as well as her seven-year-old daughter. She went on to state that the remaining two daughters faced psychological abuse as they were told that their mother and sister were 'jinn'.
The woman further disclosed that she was abused on the premise of 'punishing' the jinn, which included beatings, being treated as a slave, being denied an adequate amount of food and sleep deprivation.
Mihaaru reported that the woman, who sported bruises on her legs during the interview itself, stated that medical reports had confirmed that the seven-year-old child was subjected to severe sexual abuse.
Additionally, the woman stated that no assistance was received from neighbours and friends as they were told that cries and sounds of distress would be heard from the house throughout the Ruqya period.
In particular, she expressed concern that a police officer who made an official visit to the house was convinced to abandon the matter after the husband made assertions of [her] jinn possession, despite having been notified of the ongoing abuse. The woman also stated that a social worker failed to intervene in the situation after being obstructed by her husband.
The family stated that they had decided to report the matter to the Atoll Police Station, which has currently launched an investigation into the allegations, as an officer from the island had already demonstrated neglect with regards to the case.
Earlier this year, the police revealed that numerous individuals that had sought spiritual practices such as black magic (Sihr) and Ruqyah in Maldives had reported experiencing various degrees of harassment and sexual abuse.
Since the beginning of the year, public ire has grown considerably over the government's meagre record of arresting and convicting sexual offenders, despite numerous pledges made to protect the rights of children and women".
Protesters demanding justice for rape and sexual assault victims held demonstrations during June and July in front of Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services as well as the roads of capital Male', following an upsurge of reported cases and alleged misconduct of police during investigations.
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