Joint Press Release
20 April 2026, Male’, Maldives
Violation of personal data privacy of the deceased:
a call for accountability and strengthened processes on psychosocial support services
The Raajje Coalition for Good Governance (RCG) extends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Maldivians who recently passed away allegedly by suicide. We are appalled by the conduct of Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan in relation to one of the deaths and strongly condemn the grave violation of privacy the Minister has committed while addressing the case.
These are not isolated incidents. It reflects a pattern in which the State has repeatedly failed to uphold the privacy and dignity of persons who have died allegedly by suicide. Such actions cause direct harm: they discourage help-seeking behaviour, erode public trust in mental health and psychosocial support services, and send a chilling message to those who consider reaching out for support.
While we appreciate the concern of the public regarding this incident, we advise the public and media to refrain from circulating the text messages from the deceased to the Victim Support Unit as this further violates her dignity. Every re-share compounds the harm done by violating her privacy.
We call on the Maldivian government to:
- Immediately and unconditionally offer a public apology to the family of the deceased for having violated the right to privacy of their loved one.
- Initiate a formal investigation into the conduct of the Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology and take appropriate accountability measures, including an investigation into how the Minister acquired the private text messages of the deceased, and publicise the findings.
- Conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations of bullying that have surfaced in relation to the deaths we address today.
- Organise without delay, inclusive civil society consultations on strengthening policies related to mental health and psychosocial disabilities.
- Enact clear legal and policy frameworks governing personal data privacy in cases of death by alleged suicide, that are in line with international standards and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
- Establish an oversight mechanism for psychosocial service providers, with a clear mandate to monitor, investigate, and take authoritative action to hold service providers accountable.
The public disclosure of the deceased’s private messages was unethical and deeply harmful to many––from the deceased and her loved ones to others struggling with their mental health and the broader public at large. It constitutes a serious violation of dignity owed to the deceased and her family, while setting a dangerous precedent for how the State treats those who are most vulnerable. This disclosure of private messages to a psychosocial support service erodes further the already low trust and confidence in psychosocial support services and mental health service providers in the Maldives due to the lack of accountability as well as regulatory standards. Accountability of service providers and State actors cannot remain an afterthought. It must be central to any credible effort to improve mental health outcomes in the country.
We encourage anyone experiencing emotional distress to reach out to a trusted person for support. We also remind everyone to check on family, friends, and colleagues regularly. We further encourage the public to stay vigilant for mistreatment of anyone by a state employee or anyone else and report it without delay.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or struggling in general, you can find a list of help available.
Endorsed by:
- Journey
- Project ThimaaVeshi
- Uthema
- The Eco Org
- Blue Guild Foundation
- Neurodiversity Association
- Maldives Local Councils Association (MLCA)
- Hope for Women
- Maldivian Nurses Association (MNA)
- WINGS