Suspect Remanded for 12 Days on Terrorism Allegations Over Calls to Set Fire to Buildings

A young man arrested yesterday over allegations of calling for buildings and vehicles to be set ablaze has been remanded in custody for an additional 12 days on terrorism charges.

Ali Jumaan, of Kulhlhavahge, HA. Baarah, was taken into custody under a court warrant on suspicion of encouraging and calling for arson attacks against buildings and vehicles across the country, as well as the looting of a store, via social media.

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In a post published on X last Monday, Jumaan, 25, stated that people could not simply stand by and watch the government give land to Jews, calling for buildings and vessels to be set on fire, unrest to be incited, and protests to be staged.

The post also urged the looting of the Redwave store owned by Ahmed Saleem, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for the Eydhafushi constituency. According to the remand warrant issued by the Criminal Court following his arrest, police are investigating Jumaan on allegations of terrorism.

In addition to Jumaan, former MNDF First Lieutenant and former Deputy Minister of the current administration Zihan Hassan was also arrested on charges of calling for arson attacks against the President’s Office, the People’s Majlis building, and the Supreme Court. His remand was extended by 15 days on Wednesday.

Zihan had posted on social media questioning why fire was not being set to the buildings housing the three branches of state power, though he deleted the post roughly an hour after publishing it.