Civil Court has ruled that First Lady Sajida Mohamed has the right to file a lawsuit seeking damages over defamatory comments made by MDP activist Mariam Zubair involving her eldest son, Umair Mohamed Muizzu.

The case stems from remarks made by Mariam Zubair at an MDP rally, where she alleged that the ban on vapes in the Maldives was linked to the president’s son. In response, First Lady Sajida filed a civil suit against the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and its chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail.

Court documents reveal that the defendants failed to respond to Sajida’s claims within the allotted timeframe, submitting their replies only after the deadline had expired. As a result, the First Lady requested a ruling in her favour.

Judge Faisal Adam concluded that Mariam Zubair’s statements violated Umair Mohamed Muizzu’s right to reputation and name protection, as guaranteed under the Constitution and the International Covenant on the Rights of the Child. The court ruled that the First Lady is entitled to pursue compensation for the harm caused to her son.

However, the court did not issue an order for a public apology, stating that Maldivian law does not empower the judiciary to mandate such an action. The court also noted that the liability of MDP and Fayyaz Ismail for the activist’s statements will be determined following further consideration of the case.