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Sheikh Farooq resigns from the Parliament

Dhivehi Observer - 18th July 2004

Sheikh Farooq

Sheikh Ahmed Farooq Mohamed who is a President-appointed member of the Peoples’ Special Majlis, has today submitted his resignation from the Majlis. This is due to the illicit activities of Gayyoom and his associates in pressuring him to vote for the preferred government candidate for the position of President of the Peoples’ Special Majlis, Justice Minister Ahmed Zahir. The Special Majlis will convene tomorrow and the first item on the agenda is to elect a President to chair the sessions. The Special Majlis is charged with carrying out constitutional amendments.

DO has independently confirmed this news, but the official Maldives media has not yet reported the resignation.

Sheikh Farooq is a respected Islamic scholar in the Maldives and holds the post of Vice President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Associates of Sheikh Farooq confirm that he decided to resign because he strongly believes that pressure from Gayyoom’s government to ‘use’ him as a puppet, to conduct the illicit operations of this dictatorial regime, will impede him from carrying out his duties and keeping his oath as a member of the Majlis. He has sworn to protect the rights of the people of Maldives.

Sheikh Farooq’s unprecedented resignation is welcomed by many Maldivians, and we hope that others will emulate his courageous act and acknowledge their sworn duty as members of the Special Majlis and refuse to bow to illicit pressure.

Gayyoom is insisting that Minister Ahmed Zahir, one of his 16 appointed members in the 108 member Majlis, be elected for this post in order to ensure that Gayyoom gets his way during the proceedings.

Minister Zahir was rejected in the 1999 General Election by the people of South Huvadu Atoll. As Justice Minister he is renowned for abusing his position to pass cruel and illegal sentences on many destitute Maldivians. He has undermined and infringed upon the rights of many Maldivians. Many believe that such a man should not be chairing the sessions of the Special Majlis when it is responsible for the important task of amending the Constitution of the Maldives.