Charges against Shiman and Mahzoom are political: Fayyaz

Charges against Aishath Shiman and Abdullah Mahzoom Majid, who led the protest calling for justice for Hawwa Yumn Rasheed, who fell from a building in the Male', are political , says MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail.

Protests were taking place outside police headquarters calling out the negligence of authorities concerning the fall of Yumn from H. Fentenoy to the roof of H. Mitaaz on 18th April 2025. Both Shiman and Mahzoom have been released after being arrested during a protest and were subsequently charged.

Shiman is charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer, while Mahzoom is being charged with assault.

Expressing his concern, Fayyaz said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he strongly condemns the decision to prosecute Mahzoom and Shiman.

Fayyaz said it makes no sense that they were unfairly thrown into the criminal justice system for exercising their right to freedom of expression and demonstration.

He went on to say that these are trials being held to achieve a political goal and this is a very low level attempt by the government to silence the voice of the youth and is quite unfortunate to see.

Prosecutor General's Office media official and lawyer Ahmed Shafiu said the two had been given the opportunity to sign a plea bargain earlier and that the opportunity is still available.

However, it has been stated that both of them rejected the offer.

A plea bargain is a deal in which the defendant enters a guilty plea to a reduced charge in exchange for a lighter sentence or the dropping of additional charges, as agreed upon between the prosecution and the defendant

According to the special commission made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, they have stated that it is unclear whether Yumn was intentionally pushed off the building or whether she fell on her own.

G. Eriyadhoo's Raud Ahmed Zilaal, the individual who was seen with Yumnu on the night of the incident, has told the commission that he does not recall what happened that night.

The Prosecutor General's Office has filed a charge of failing to provide assistance to a person in need without reasonable cause. Raud has since been released from custody.

The punishment for such a charge is a prison sentence of one month and six days.

Raud is facing the charges for knowing that Yumna had fallen, not helping her and not reporting the incident to any relevant authority for help, the Prosecutor General's office said.