A senior political appointee at the Ministry of Sports, Ibrahim Saeed (widely known as Cade), has been dismissed after publicly condemning remarks made by Parliamentary Group Leader of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), Ibrahim Falah.
The controversy stems from a heated parliamentary debate on the media bill, where Falah told lawmakers that journalists who spread harmful information should not face prison sentences but instead be “impaled.” The remark immediately drew strong criticism from media groups, civil society, and individuals, including Saeed, who had once worked as a journalist himself.
In a formal letter issued today, signed by President’s Office Minister Ali Arif, Saeed was informed that he had been removed from his post effective immediately. The dismissal was carried out under the authority granted to the President by Article 115 (f) of the Constitution.
Saeed’s removal came less than 24 hours after he posted on Facebook, strongly criticizing Falah’s words. In his post, he stressed that no journalist should ever be subjected to such language, let alone threats, and called for action to be taken against Falah for his conduct inside parliament.
Speaking during Wednesday’s session, Falah claimed he had been unfairly targeted in the past, saying that media outlets had attempted to portray him as homosexual. He told parliamentarians that such claims had caused personal distress to his family. As he expressed his anger, he repeated that journalists guilty of such actions deserved to be “impaled” rather than jailed.
However, no credible media outlet in the Maldives had reported claims about Falah’s sexuality. The issue had instead circulated on social media platforms, according to multiple observers.
The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) and the Maldives Media Council (MMC) have since condemned the remarks, describing them as a direct attack on press freedom. Both organizations have called on Falah to issue a public apology and to uphold the dignity of parliament in future debates.
The dismissal of Ibrahim Saeed has added another layer of controversy to the issue, as his criticism echoed the concerns of many journalists and civil society groups. Saeed’s background in journalism made his reaction particularly significant, with many noting that he voiced what others in the media community were already demanding: accountability for dangerous and inflammatory language directed at reporters.
With the government already under pressure to show its commitment to press freedom, the handling of both Falah’s remarks and Saeed’s dismissal will likely remain in the spotlight in the weeks ahead.
