Maldives vote-rigging row after 'black magic coconut' is found near polling booth
The coconut was placed near a polling booth in an alleged bid to disrupt the upcoming elections
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.As political dark arts go they don't come any darker than this.
A vote-rigging row has erupted in the Maldives ahead of Saturday's presidential election amid suspicions that one party is using cursed coconuts imbued with black magic spells to sway voters’ political allegiances.
The claims came after a coconut, described as "young", was placed near a polling booth in an alleged bid to disrupt the upcoming elections.
The fruit had been inscribed with verse from the Koran and placed near the booth at a school on the remote Kaafu atoll - Guraidhoo, one of the islands that make up the Indian Ocean archipelago state.
Black magic is often used to prevent people from voting or influence them on the islands.
Following the discovery of the 'cursed' coconut police brought in a 'ruqyah' practitioner (white magician) to examine the coconut.
The expert found the black magic element of the coconut was fake, Maldives channel Minivan News reported. "Because it's a fake the police are not worried," the source said.
Minivan said a source told them the 4inch coconut had "a [Koranic verse] written in Arabic [on it] and was lying on the ground near the school, easy for the public to see.
It seems like it was a joke, just a prank, so that people will become aware."
According to reports residents had previously complained about the ballot box being placed near a school given the possibility that such spells could be cast, CNM news reported. The elections commission sought to allay fears saying they would take responsibility should any students fall ill.
In a further development, reported by Minivan News, it was claimed that the discovery of the coconut was being used by President Mohamed Waheed’s Gaumee Ihthihad Party (GIP) to "redirect attention away from the other political parties to gain votes".
The election in the Maldives has been bitterly contested with Mohammed Nasheed, the former president, hoping to win outright and avoid a run-off second election.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments