Former Maldives climate change minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem, who was detained last month over allegations of performing “black magic” on President Mohamed Muizzu, has been released, according to police reports on Saturday.
Shamnaz, along with her sister and another individual, was arrested in Male, the capital city, leading to her resignation from her ministerial position shortly thereafter. Local media had reported accusations that she used “black magic” to influence the president’s administration favorably.
Police had sought extensions for her detention twice but ultimately released her on Saturday while the investigation continues.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” a police official disclosed anonymously to AFP in Male.
The specific details of the allegations against Shamnaz have not been confirmed or denied by authorities, and the case has been handled in criminal court sessions held behind closed doors.
While sorcery is not a criminal offense under Maldivian law, it carries a six-month jail term under Islamic law. The Maldives, an archipelago nation highly vulnerable to climate change, practices a mix of traditional ceremonies, believed by many to bring blessings or curses.
The case has sparked broader discussions about the intersection of traditional beliefs and modern legal frameworks in the Maldives.