The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, has underscored the importance of ethical conduct in political discussions following derogatory remarks made about President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s family.

Via his official X account on Friday, the Minister stated that targeting the President’s family, particularly his children, is inappropriate and a violation of their fundamental rights. He called for greater accountability in political discussions and emphasised that minors must be off-limits in debates.

The Minister’s statement follows an incident where an MDP activist made comments linking the President’s son to the country’s vaping ban.

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and the Elections Commission (EC) have also expressed concern over the incident, reiterating the need to uphold dignity, respect, and responsible discourse in political discussions.