Male, November 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Maldives Foreign Minister and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) president Abdulla Shahid was arrested late Monday night in Male following a court warrant, with police investigating allegations involving the sexual abuse of a minor.
The Maldives Police Service said in an official statement that the 64-year-old opposition leader was taken into custody at 9.59 p.m. local time under Section 18 of police regulations. The arrest was carried out in accordance with a court warrant issued in Male.
Police said the investigation concerns allegations of sexual abuse involving a person below the age of 18. Further proceedings relating to Shahid’s remand and custody are expected before the courts.
The arrest of the veteran politician has triggered political tensions in the island nation, with MDP supporters and senior opposition lawmakers alleging that the action is politically motivated and aimed at targeting the country’s principal opposition leader.
Law enforcement authorities, however, maintain that the arrest was carried out under established legal procedures following formal complaints and judicial authorisation.
Shahid is among the Maldives’ most prominent political and diplomatic figures. He served as President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly from 2021 to 2022 and was Foreign Minister under the MDP government from 2018 to 2023.
He had earlier served as Speaker of the People’s Majlis, the Maldivian Parliament, from 2009 to 2014.
Following the MDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election, Shahid took charge of the party, which emerged as the country’s main opposition formation. Earlier this year, he announced his intention to seek the party’s presidential nomination for the next election cycle.
The case is expected to have significant political repercussions as the opposition leader faces the legal proceedings.
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