Fazna Faces Opposition Protest During Campaign Visit to Hiyaa Flats

Opposition supporters mounted a protest against First Lady Fazna Ahmed during her visit to the Hiyaa Flats area yesterday.

The purpose of her visit was to garner support for her husband, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is running for re-election as the Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) presidential candidate in the upcoming second round of elections.

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Despite facing insults from opposition supporters, Fazna maintained her composure and continued to engage with the crowd. During her visit, she took the opportunity to visit several apartments and attentively listened to the concerns and complaints of the residents.

Taking to Facebook to address the incident, Fazna Ahmed revealed that two older men had directed insults towards her while she conducted door-to-door campaigning during the second phase of her visit. She asserted that these individuals were supporters of the opposition candidate.

The incident involving the two men drew the attention of the crowd, who admonished them for their behaviour. Fazna remarked that this unintended attention had led many to discover her presence in the area. Subsequently, she received greetings and requests for photographs from some residents, even those not originally on her itinerary.

In response to the incident, Fazna emphasised that while she was not fearful, it was a matter of grave concern. She expressed gratitude for the numerous calls and messages of support she had received from well-wishers. 

She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to her campaign and expressed optimism about the prospects of her husband, Solih, in the upcoming election.

Ismail Habeeb, Vice Chairman of the Election Commission of Maldives (ECM), took to Twitter this morning, to remind everyone that the right to campaign is a fundamental and constitutional right for all candidates. Interfering with or insulting any candidate’s campaign is deemed an electoral offense. 

ގާނޫނުއަސާސީ އިން ލިބިދީފައިވާ، ކެމްޕޭން ކުރުމުގެ ހައްގަކީ، ކޮންމެ ކެންޑިޑޭޓަކަށް ވެސް ކަށަވަރު ކޮށްދީފައިވާ، އަސާސީ ހައްގެއް.
އެއްވެސް ކެންޑިޑޭޓެއްގެ، ކެމްޕޭން ކުރުމުގެ ހައްގަށް ހުރަސްއަޅައި، ފުރައްސާރަ ކުރުމަކީ،
އިންތިޚާބީ ކުށެއް.
ރިޔާސީ އިންތިހާބު ގެ ދެވަނަބުރު ބޭއްވުމަށް،…— Ismail Habeeb (@IsmailHabeeb) September 17, 2023

As the country prepares for the second round of the presidential election, Ismail Habeeb urged political parties and supporters to maintain a peaceful and secure electoral environment, avoiding actions that could lead to unrest.