Shahid Removed from MDP National Council WhatsApp Group

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, who was arrested last week over allegations of child sexual abuse, has reportedly been removed from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) National Council WhatsApp group.

According to local news outlet Dhiyares, Shahid was removed from the internal communications group on Sunday. However, the party has yet to make an official public statement regarding the administrative change or the ongoing allegations against him.

Senior leadership of the MDP have maintained silence regarding the accusations since his arrest.

Shahid was taken into police custody on the night of November 2, 2026, under suspicion of sexually abusing a minor under the age of 18. Authorities have not publicly disclosed detailed facts of the case, in accordance with legal and privacy safeguards surrounding incidents involving minors.

The Criminal Court ordered Shahid remanded in custody for 30 days. While the court does not publicly release remand orders in cases concerning minors, a 30-day remand is typically granted in serious offenses where the court determines sufficient initial evidence has been submitted.

Shahid’s legal team has appealed the detention order at the High Court of the Maldives. Prior to his arrest, Shahid publicly dismissed the allegations on social media, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.