Male: Maldivian Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology Ali Solih was attacked with a knife by a man in the Hulhumale area in Male, the capital of Maldives on Monday.

The attacker had tried to slit Ali Solih’s throat after reciting verses of the Quran, but the minister managed to survive. The attacker has been arrested. Solih is also the spokesperson for the Jumhoori Party (JP), a coalition partner of President Ibrahim Solih’s ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Ali Solih escaped after getting off his motorcycle

According to ‘The Times of Addu’, Ali Solih was travelling on a motorcycle when the attack took place. The attacker had attacked his neck from behind but missed the target. However, Ali Solih’s left arm was injured. Ali Solih immediately got off the motorcycle and ran to escape.

Ali Solih is undergoing treatment at Hulhumale Hospital. A video of this incident is also becoming increasingly viral. The attacker has been handed over to 15 days police remand. All parties in Maldives strongly condemned this attack.

Maldives is facing Islamic fundamentalism and terrorist threat

Maldives, an island country located in the Indian Ocean, was in the headlines in May 2021. The bomb was detonated outside the residence of former President Muhammad Nasheed in the capital Male. The explosive was planted in a bike parked near Nasheed’s car. After this attack, Nasheed was flown to Germany.

Maldives is facing threat due to Islamic extremism and recruitment for terrorist organizations. The current government, led by President Solih with Speaker Nasheed, is considered democratic and liberal in its approach to governance and social norms. The MDP with international backing has been running a protracted fight against the development of radical tendencies in the Indian Ocean nation.