Ministry Warns Against Disclosing Minor’s Identity Amid High-Profile Abuse Case

The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare has issued a stern directive warning the public and media outlets against circulating personal details that could compromise the identity and dignity of the victim in a high-profile child sexual abuse investigation.

In an official statement released yesterday, the ministry cautioned that identifying details regarding the affected minor have begun surfacing across several online publications and social media networks, constituting a direct violation of established child protection standards and statutory guarantees. 

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While the ministry’s communication did not cite specific names, it explicitly reiterated that under Maldivian child rights legislation, disclosing information that directly or indirectly reveals the identity of child victims, accused juveniles, or minors under state care is an offense.

The ministry’s advisory comes amid intense public attention surrounding the arrest of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, who was taken into custody on allegations of sexually abusing a minor while occupying a position of trust. The 64-year-old veteran diplomat and opposition politician has been remanded in police custody for 30 days to facilitate the investigation.

Following the release of his mugshot by authorities, police confirmed that Shahid was taken into custody under a judicial warrant last Tuesday, from his residence at the Rainbow Ocean Front apartment complex in Hulhumalé. Investigating officers searched the premises before escorting him to the Hulhumalé Police Station, after which he was transferred to the Dhoonidhoo Custodial Centre. A police spokesperson confirmed that the allegations involve an individual under the age of 18, while declining to disclose further details citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

According to statutory provisions, the legal ban explicitly bars the dissemination of names, residential addresses, educational institutions, photographs, and family connections across digital, print, and broadcast media. The ministry emphasized that children are legally entitled to special safeguarding and strict confidentiality from their families, the broader community, and state institutions.

Owing to statutory restrictions designed to protect the rights and welfare of minors, neither the Maldives Police Service nor the judiciary has disclosed operational case materials or sensitive details concerning the allegations.

The ministry urged commentators, news platforms, and the public to exercise restraint, adhere strictly to legal confidentiality boundaries, and refrain from publishing material that infringes upon the child’s statutory protections.