{{Short description|Maldivian politician (born 1967)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Umar Naseer | office = Minister of Home Affairs | native_name = {{nobold|ޢުމަރު ނަޞީރު}} | native_name_lang = dv | image = Umar Naseer.jpg | caption = Naseer in 2016 | term_start = 19 November 2013 | term_end = 21 June 2016 | president = Abdulla Yameen | succeeded = Ahmed Zuhoor | predecessor = Ahmed Shafeeu (acting)<br/>Mohamed Jameel Ahmed | party = Independent (2018–present) | other_party = Islamic Democratic Party (2008–2010)<br/>Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (2010–2010)<br/>Progressive Party of Maldives (2010–2013; 2015–2017) Jumhooree Party (2013–2015; 2017–2018) | alma_mater = University of Hull | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|04|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = Henveiru, Malé, Sultanate of the Maldive Islands | children = 4 }} '''Umar Naseer''' (born 27 April 1967)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ministers |url=https://old.majlis.gov.mv/di/download/majlihuge%20raeesge%20meyzun%20hushahalhaakakan/6%20Vazeerun_RJ%20Sity.pdf |access-date=5 September 2025 |website=People's Majlis |pages=12–13}}</ref> is a Maldivian politician who served as the Minister of Home Affairs from 2013 to 2016. Naseer ran as an independent candidate in both the 2008 and 2023 presidential elections.
== Early life and education == Naseer was born on 27 April 1967 in Henveiru, Malé, Sultanate of the Maldive Islands (present Maldives).<ref name=":0" /> He did his Master of Business Administration at the University of Hull.<ref name=":0" /> He did military training and police training in Japan and the Maldives as well as leadership training at Harvard University.<ref name=":0" />
== Political career == In 2008, Naseer ran in the 2008 Maldivian presidential election representing the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP). He received 2,472 votes and was unable to go into the second round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidential Election 2008 |url=https://www.elections.gov.mv/en/ec/elections/presidentialelectionresults2008.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108184452/https://www.elections.gov.mv/en/ec/elections/presidentialelectionresults2008.html |archive-date=8 November 2023 |website=Elections Commission}}</ref>
In 2010, Naseer left the IDP stating that it had no future and joined the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) in a ceremony and was welcomed by then-leader of DRP Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nazeer |first=Ahmed |date=19 January 2010 |title=IDP 'has no future' says Umar, jumping to DRP |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/idp-has-no-future-says-umar-jumping-to-drp-2578 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref>
In September, during when Naseer was serving as the Deputy Leader of the party, the DRP's council filed a case against Naseer to the Disciplinary Committee for forging a press release and for causing division in the party.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Nazeer |first=Ahmed |date=7 April 2013 |title=PPM to decide whether to discipline Umar Naseer for allegations of corruption in party primary |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/ppm-to-decide-whether-to-discipline-umar-naseer-for-allegations-of-corruption-in-party-primary-55816 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref> This resulted in Naseer being dismissed from the party and being removed from the party's membership list.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Merrett |first=Neil |date=2 December 2010 |title=Umar Naseer dismissed amidst stormy day for the DRP |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/umar-naseer-dismissed-amidst-stormy-day-for-the-drp-14022 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nazeer |first=Ahmed |date=4 January 2011 |title=DRP requests EC to remove Umar Naseer from party membership list |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/drp-requests-ec-to-remove-umar-naseer-from-party-membership-list-14797 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref>
In 2011, Naseer joined the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naish |first=Ahmed |date=16 October 2011 |title=PPM approves party constitution, council and logo at inaugural convention |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/ppm-approves-party-constitution-council-and-logo-at-inaugural-convention-27053 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Maldives Independent}}</ref>
In 2013, Naseer declared war within the party after his defeat in the party's presidential primaries for the 2013 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Powell |first=Luke |date=30 March 2013 |title=Yameen elected as PPM presidential candidate |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/yameen-elected-as-ppm-presidential-candidate-55392 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref> He called the primaries rigged by purposefully invalidating the ballots by ticking Abdulla Yameen's name.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naahee |first=Mohamed |date=2 April 2013 |title=Umar Naseer alleges PPM primaries rigged, declares “war within the party” |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/umar-naseer-alleges-ppm-primaries-rigged-declares-%e2%80%9cwar-within-the-party%e2%80%9d-55590 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref> PPM's Council launched a case to its disciplinary committee after Naseer refused to apologize for calling the primaries rigged.<ref name=":1" /> In April, he was dismissed from the party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2013 |title=PPM officially dismisses Umar Naseer |url=https://english.sun.mv/11945 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Sun}}</ref> Naseer contested this decision and submitted a case to the Civil Court to seek a ruling.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mohamed |first=Mariyath |date=28 April 2013 |title=Umar Naseer contests dismissal from PPM in Civil Court |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/umar-naseer-contests-dismissal-from-ppm-in-civil-court-57118 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref> A case was filed by another PPM member to the Civil Court to invalidate the primary but was dismissed on a technicality.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mohamed |first=Mariyath |date=18 April 2013 |title=PPM presidential primary results challenged in court |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/ppm-presidential-primary-results-challenged-in-court-56505 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Merrett |first=Neil |date=4 May 2013 |title=Civil Court dismisses case to invalidate outcome of PPM primary |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/civil-court-dismisses-case-to-invalidate-outcome-of-ppm-primary-57367 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref> Naseer later personally resubmitted the case which the court later ruled in the favour of PPM.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Merrett |first=Neil |date=6 May 2013 |title=Umar Naseer resubmits case to invalidate outcome of PPM primary |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/umar-naseer-resubmits-case-to-invalidate-outcome-of-ppm-primary-57500 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Naish |first=Ahmed |date=27 June 2013 |title=Civil Court rules in favour of PPM over contested primary results |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/civil-court-rules-in-favour-of-ppm-over-contested-primary-results-60381 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref>
Following this, Naseer joined the Jumhooree Party (JP) in the same year.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Mitra |first=Devirupa |date=4 July 2016 |title=Elections Aren't Due till 2018 but the Maldives Presidential Race Just Got a Lot More Interesting |url=https://thewire.in/world/maldivian-president-gets-his-first-formal-challenger-for-2018-polls-an-old-colleague-and-rival |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=The Wire}}</ref>
In November, Naseer was appointed as a member of Yameen's cabinet as the Minister of Home Affairs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 November 2013 |title=President appoints six new Cabinet Ministers |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/13531 |access-date=5 September 2025 |website=The President's Office}}</ref> Naseer was appointed on a JP ticket but switched back to PPM in September 2015.<ref name=":2" /> In 2016, Naseer resigned as minister.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 June 2025 |title=Home minister resigns |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/home-minister-resigns-124940 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Maldives Independent}}</ref> In 2017, Naseer rejoined the JP but later left in 2018 to run in the presidential election that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Farah |date=22 December 2017 |title=Maldives opposition dismayed at ex-home minister joining Jumhoory Party |url=https://edition.mv/news/4782 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=The Edition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Abdulla |first=Shaina |date=15 May 2018 |title=Ex-home minister resigns from Jumhoory Party to run in elections |url=https://edition.mv/news/5919 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=The Edition}}</ref>
He ran as an independent candidate in the 2023 Maldivian presidential election, finishing fourth out of eight candidates.
== Controversies == Naseer's career in the Maldives Police Service ended under contentious circumstances. As a Sergeant, he was allegedly expelled for torturing a detainee during an interrogation. In an exclusive interview with Minivan News in London, Abdulla Mahir, a torture victim who gained notoriety in July 2007 after throwing an egg at Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, claimed that while in police custody, he was tortured by Naseer and his team.<ref name=":3" /> Mahir stated that the torture left him permanently disabled.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=28 July 2007 |title='Egg Mahir' Vows To Strike Again |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/%e2%80%98egg-mahir%e2%80%99-vows-to-strike-again-376 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref>
Naseer had advocated for arming police officers with pistols and guns. At a ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of the Maldives Police Service, he suggested “narrowing constitutional rights” for those arrested by the police and eliminating the requirement to present an arrested suspect before a judge within 24 hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rasheed |first=Yameen |author-link=Yameen Rasheed |date=30 March 2015 |title=Umar Naseer: A study in Incompetence |url=https://thedailypanic.com/2015/03/umar-naseer-a-study-in-incompetence/ |access-date=5 September 2025 |website=The Daily Panic}}</ref>
In his 2023 presidential bid announcement, Naseer assured that his administration would implement the death penalty, which he claimed would establish peace and order across the nation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2023 |title=Umar pledges to execute those sentenced to death by Supreme Court |url=https://psmnews.mv/en/124863 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=PSM News}}</ref> He further stated that all drug traffickers would be sentenced to death, and prisoners currently serving life sentences would be executed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 August 2023 |title=Umar Naseer Pledges Top Priority to Combat Substance Abuse |url=https://www.plus.mv/english/umar-naseer-pledges-top-priority-to-combat-substance-abuse/ |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=MV+}}</ref>
In addition to his other policies, Naseer has been a vocal advocate for the implementation of Shariah law in the Maldives. He believes that incorporating Shariah principles into the legal system will help establish a more just and moral society. His vision includes strict adherence to Islamic laws, which he argues will bring about peace and order.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 February 2023 |title=Umar Naseer announces presidential bid to take Maldives in "A New Direction" |url=https://edition.mv/news/27033 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926020346/https://edition.mv/news/27033 |archive-date=26 September 2023 |access-date=5 September 2025 |work=The Edition}}</ref>
=== Arrest and charges === During the 2011–2013 Maldives political crisis, Naseer was arrested while protesting against the government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 May 2011 |title=Fresh protest rocks troubled Maldives |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2011/5/4/fresh-protest-rocks-troubled-maldives |access-date=11 September 2025 |work=Al Jazeera English}}</ref>
In 2014, Naseer was charged with disobedience to an order after he was accused of calling for volunteers to breach the Maldives National Defence Force's headquarters during the detention of judge Abdulla Mohamed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naish |first=Ahmed |date=27 April 2014 |title=Home Minister Umar Naseer pleads not guilty to charges at Criminal Court |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/home-minister-umar-naseer-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-at-criminal-court-83603 |access-date=11 September 2025 |work=Maldives Independent}}</ref> Naseer failed to attend court three times to answer his charges and an arrest warrant was issued.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rasheed |first=Zaheena |date=15 June 2014 |title=Home Minister appeals arrest warrant |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/home-minister-appeals-arrest-warrant-86958 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref> The Home Ministry said that he isn't evading as he was in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rasheed |first=Zaheena |date=14 June 2014 |title=Umar Naseer is not a fugitive from justice, says Home Ministry |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/umar-naseer-is-not-a-fugitive-from-justice-says-home-ministry-86948 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=Maldives Independent}}</ref> The High Court rejected Naseer's appeal to overturn his arrest warrant claiming that warrants can't be appealed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rasheed |first=Zaheena |date=16 June 2014 |title=Home Minister returns to Malé, High Court rejects appeal to overturn arrest warrant |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/home-minister-returns-to-male-high-court-rejects-appeal-to-overturn-arrest-warrant-87034 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=Minivan News}}</ref> The case was concluded in July 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naish |first=Ahmed |date=24 July 2014 |title=Home Minister Umar Naseer’s trial concludes at Criminal Court |url=https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/home-minister-umar-naseers-trial-concludes-at-criminal-court-88886 |access-date=14 September 2025 |work=Maldives Independent}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naseer, Umar}} Category:Living people Category:1967 births Category:21st-century Maldivian politicians Category:Candidates for President of the Maldives Category:Candidates in the 2023 Maldivian presidential election Category:Cabinet of Abdulla Yameen Category:Homeland ministers of the Maldives Category:Progressive Party of Maldives politicians Category:Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party politicians Category:Independent politicians in the Maldives Category:Alumni of the University of Hull Category:Jumhooree Party politicians Category:Maldivian Muslims