General Hussain Shameem, the Maldives’ prosecutor, was viciously stabbed with a machete by unknown assailants. The attack occurred amid political turbulence in the island nation, where the opposition is preparing to impeach President Mohamed Muizzu.
According to local media accounts, gangs viciously assaulted Maldives Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem in broad daylight as part of the ongoing political crisis. In 2019, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) led by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih appointed the top lawyer.
According to investigators, Hussain Shameem was not near his security cover when the event occurred near the Noor mosque. He is currently receiving treatment at ADK Hospital for his wounds. He also fractured his wrist while attempting to dodge the attack.
Following the incident, the MDP issued a forceful statement criticizing the Muizzu administration for allowing criminals to operate freely.
Former President Solih turned to X (previously known as Twitter) to condemn the attack and call for the culprits to be held accountable.
Who is Hussain Shameem?
Hussain Shameem was appointed as Prosecutor General in 2019 under Article 221 of the Maldivian Constitution and Article 3 of the Prosecutor General’s Act. He succeeded Aishath Bisham, who resigned after facing various claims, including allowing the past government to influence the PG Office’s operations.
Prior to his appointment as the top lawyer, he was the deputy prosecutor general twice, from February 2009 to October 2012 and from November 2013 to May 2014. He also worked on the clemency board.
Hussain Shameem has a Master of Laws in Criminal Law and Justice from the University of Sussex, as well as a graduate degree in Shari’a and Law from Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
Maldives Political Turmoil
Meanwhile, the MDP announced that it had collected enough signatures to file a no-confidence resolution against President Mohamed Muizzu and his government. The impeachment motion against the pro-China President is expected to be brought to Parliament shortly.
This outcome came after MPs clashed in the Maldivian Parliament, disrupting a special session called to seek legislative approval for Muizzu’s cabinet ministers. MPs from the ruling alliance, the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), clashed with the MDP.
Muizzu, 45, defeated the India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a presidential runoff in September last year.
Soon after assuming the oath of office as President of the Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested that India withdraw 88 military soldiers from his country by March 15 ,citing a “strong mandate” from the Maldivians to do so.
According to the most recent government numbers, 88 Indian military personnel are stationed in the Maldives to help operate a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters given by India.
Without mentioning any nation, Muizzu made a subtle jab at India by saying, “We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the licence to bully us.” After traveling to China for the first time since taking office, he made the remarks.
Muizzu government petitions Supreme Court over impeachment law
Notably, the Muizzu government approached the country’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, citing a recent revision to Parliament’s standing orders that simplifies the impeachment procedure.
Muizzu’s strong “anti-India” stance has further aggravated the island nation’s political crisis. On January 25, the MDP and the Democrats issued a joint statement labeling the change in foreign policy as ‘very harmful’ to the country’s long-term development.
