Draft:2024 Maldives Witchcraft Incident

On 23 June 2024, three individuals including Minister of State Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, were arrested on charges of performing witchcraft on Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu. They have been remanded in jail for a week by the Hulhumale Magistrate Court, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan stated that an investigation is underway.

Background
Shamnaz served on the Male City Council during the Mayorship of Muizzu, but following his election as President, she resigned from the Council and was appointed as a State Minister at Muliaage, the official residence of the President, after which she was appointed to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Energy.

Arrest
The Police had searched her home and seized some items before the arrest. The two other arrested suspects are her sibling and the alleged sorcerer.

Shamnaz, and her former husband Adam Rameez, a Minster at the President's Office were suspended following the incident. She was relieved of her position on the 26th of June 2024.