The Maldives Police Service has initiated an investigation into an individual who allegedly threatened to assassinate the President. This threat reportedly followed the President's recent proposal to discuss imposing the death penalty on drug traffickers in the Maldives.
The President's proposal was made in a social media post on Wednesday. A newspaper article detailing the incident was subsequently shared on social media, where a user identified as Maseeh Moosa allegedly posted a comment suggesting the President should be killed. A screenshot of this post is reported to be circulating on social media.
In his social media post concerning the death penalty for drug cases, the President stated that a key objective of his administration is to protect society from the impact of drugs and foster a drug-free generation. He further indicated that relevant government agencies have been directed to review the Narcotics Act Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, to potentially introduce stricter penalties, including the death penalty, for those convicted of drug importation or trafficking, in line with practices in some other countries.
Drugs are recognized as a significant societal issue in the Maldives, and the government is implementing various measures to address this problem. The government has previously announced its efforts to establish remand centers and enhance the drug treatment system.
This incident follows a previous instance where a death threat against the President on social media was also reported.