President Mohamed Nasheed of Male, Maldives, was hurt in a blast near his home and is being treated in the hospital. Nasheed’s injuries are not life-threatening and further investigation is being carried out.
Nasheed became the first democratically-elected leader of the Maldives after a 30-year autocratic rule. He was elected Parliament Speaker in 2019.
His accomplishments include championing global efforts to fight climate change. He has been an outspoken critic of religious extremism in a country where preaching and practicing other faiths are banned by law.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described the blast as an attack on Nasheed.
–Ella Breedlove
BCNN1 WP 