Spokesperson of the Jumhooree Party, Ali Solih has said that caricatures, cartoons and slanders against national leaders will not harm and lower their status.
Ali Solih made this remark following the slander of the Jumhooree Party Leader Gasim Ibrahim by PPM members during a march the party held yesterday afternoon.
PPM members held posters with cartoons of Gasim Ibrahim trying to attack his personality and leadership.
Ali Solih said that making caricatures and slandering national leaders is something that is common in the regimes of the leaders of PPM.
He said that President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom also resorted to such tactics during 1978 when he was elected as the President.
He said that President Maumoon also tried to malign the former President and champion of Maldives independence Ibrahim Nasir after coming to power. He said that Male’ streets were full of billboards with cartoons of President Ibrahim Nasir.
“During that time the government will force the people and school students to do this. If anyone refuses then he or she will be imprisoned and tortured. They used to issue big verdicts on them and banish them,” he said.
Ali Solih said that the story of a person from Thoddoo is famous regarding this matter. He said that the man had a skin allergy and was adviced by doctors not to go out in the sun. He said that the man was arrested and banished for six years and tortured for not participating in the protest.
Ali Solih said that the same tradition is now being revived by the government of PPM.