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Ali Naz Saleem arrested by Police for questioning Gayyoom

DO EXCLUSIVE
Mariyam Mohamed, Male’, 30^th July 2004

Ali Naz Saleem, 26, is now in detention

Ali Naz Saleem, 26, of Ma. Dhirey, is a former NSS staff who worked in the Presidential Palace as a security guard. He has been writing to the President demanding an explanation for the unfair dismissal from his job in 2001. Most Fridays, locals can see Gayyoom in person and shake his hand after the Prayer at Islamic Centre in Male’. Unlike most others, who just ‘worship’ and get Gayyoom’s blessings, Ali Naz takes this opportunity to remind Gayyoom about his problem and demands an answer. He has done this over the past few weeks and today he approached Gayyoom again. Today he supposedly told Gayyoom to resign if he can’t attend to problems of the public, referring in this case to his complaints. He was immediately arrested and taken to the police. This was around 1 o’clock this afternoon. Eye witnesses say that he was manhandled and put in a police van by force.

Ali Naz has been very crossed with the government for not extending his no-pay leave to complete a law degree in Malaysia. He took a leave to study but wanted to continue towards a degree and National Security Service did not allow him to go back to finish his study. He was even jailed for 2 months for attempting to leave Maldives without permission. He has been very disturbed by this injustice and been demanding an explanation from the President ever since.

His Father, Mr. Ibrahim Saleem (Fori) was later taken to Police today and questioned about the case. He was told that his son had made derogatory remarks about the President and that he has been doing this over a period of time causing distress to the President. The Police have also informed him that his son will be detained in the Police headquarters indefinitely and that he is to arrange with the Women's and Social Affairs Ministry to send his son to Guraidhoo Mental Institution in Male' Atoll. "Police have decided that my son is mentally retarded because he demands his right from the President. I am now afraid that they will give him some injection and actually retard him. We are very concerned about him and we do not trust the institutions to look after him” said his Father exclusively speaking to DO this after noon. Mr. Saleem further added “if my son is mentally ill, which I am confident he is not, that decision has to be made by a Psychologist and not by a Police Officer”. Mr. Saleem is now getting support of a lawyer to represent his son. He said it is unfair that I am being taken to police, as his Father I am responsible for his well being but I should not be detained for hours like today.