Just over a year ago, President Mohamed Muizzu stood before the Maldivian people and promised to free the judiciary from political influence. But that promise now rings hollow. In a deeply troubling move that further erodes public trust in our institutions, Mohamed Shaheed a senior loyalist of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) has been selected for High Court judgeship, just days after leaving a political post.
Shaheed served as deputy minister at the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology until July 10. On that exact same day, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) quietly opened applications for two High Court judge vacancies. With a hefty monthly salary of MVR 67,000 on the line, the deadline was just six days later. The public had no idea who applied—until right before interviews were held and decisions were made. And just like that, Muizzu’s loyalist was handed a seat on the bench.
This appointment reeks of political favoritism. Shaheed wasn’t just another government official. He was an active PNC campaigner during the 2023 presidential and 2024 parliamentary elections. He regularly appeared on TV and other platforms to defend the Muizzu administration. That someone so closely tied to party politics could be picked as a judge raises serious questions about judicial independence in the Maldives.
This latest appointment didn’t happen in isolation. It comes on the heels of other deeply concerning events within the judiciary. Earlier this year, three justices Dr. Azmiralda Zahir and Mahaz Ali Zahir were suspended by the JSC.These judges were hearing a case that challenged the PNC’s controversial attempt to insert anti-defection clauses into the Constitution. Their suspension came just minutes before a key hearing on the matter was scheduled at the Supreme Court.
The dismissed judges were replaced in a rush, with former High Court judges—now seen as loyal to the administration—being promoted to the Supreme Court. In protest, Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al-Suood resigned, warning of a dangerous erosion of judicial integrity.Now, one of the empty seats left behind at the High Court has gone to a political insider. It’s becoming increasingly clear that loyalty to Muizzu’s administration is the fastest path to a judicial promotion.
This disturbing trend doesn’t stop at judges. The assistant High Court registrar who testified against Azmiralda and Mahaz was recently rewarded with a high-paying job at the state utility company Fenaka. Is this the new norm? Speak out against independent judges, and get rewarded with a top government job?
Our courts should not be turned into tools for political gain. Judges should be picked based on merit, experience, and commitment to justice—not based on loyalty to a ruling party. President Muizzu made a clear promise: to keep politics out of the judiciary. But with every passing week, that promise looks more like a lie. The appointment of Mohamed Shaheed—just days after leaving a political post—is a slap in the face to those who believe in an independent judiciary.
