Maldives arrests former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid over child abuse allegations

Former Maldives Foreign Minister and opposition leader Abdulla Shahid has been arrested over allegations of sexually abusing a minor, according to the Maldives Police Service.

The 64-year-old politician was arrested at his residence in the capital, Malé, at approximately 9:59 p.m. on Monday, November 2, following a court warrant.

Police confirmed that Shahid was taken into custody on suspicion of sexually abusing a person under the age of 18.

Authorities said investigations into the case were ongoing but did not disclose further details.

Shahid, however, rejected the allegations shortly before his arrest, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.

In a post on X, the former minister said the claims were being circulated to damage his reputation and urged the public not to spread unverified information.

“The stories being circulated in a political manner to assassinate my character are completely baseless lies,” he wrote.

His arrest comes as he seeks to secure the presidential ticket of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ahead of the country’s 2028 presidential election.

Shahid previously served as president of the MDP and was a prominent figure in the country’s opposition politics. He also served as the Maldives’ Foreign Minister from 2018 to 2023 under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Beyond domestic politics, Shahid served as President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly from 2021 to 2022, becoming one of the country’s most prominent figures in international diplomacy.

His arrest has drawn attention to the political climate in the Indian Ocean nation, with opposition figures reportedly questioning the circumstances surrounding his detention.