Former MNDF First Lieutenant and former Deputy Minister Zihan Hassan has been remanded in custody for 15 days after his arrest over social media posts allegedly encouraging arson attacks on key state institutions.
The Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court issued the remand order on Thursday following his arrest in Fuvahmulah. The posts questioned why the buildings housing the President’s Office, the People’s Majlis and the Supreme Court had not been set on fire, with remarks suggesting such an act would be fun. The content was deleted approximately an hour after publication.
A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Zihan previously served as a naval architect in the Maldives National Defence Force before being discharged during the previous administration. Associates claimed the dismissal was linked to political criticism. He was later appointed Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Transport under the current administration but was subsequently removed and has remained an online critic of the government.
The case highlights the intersection of social media commentary and public order enforcement.