Been following this since allegations surfaced, felt extremely uncomfy re: the implications of "withholding evidence for the ripe time" even back then.

Child safety and security supersedes all social and political considerations, let's discuss:

1/x https://twitter.com/gD5jEv5/status/1275514403022974978

First, the legal implications. The accusations have been made on Twitter (a platform with no legal validity) and the people making these claims ardently defend reasons to NOT DISCLOSE evidence of child grooming to any authorities;

2/x

Case in point, these screenshots from the primary accusers: Isha Afeef, Afnan Latheef (Nakko), Shafa Rameez (custadu) and Ryyyshh;

3/x

First, these individuals do not have the authority to carry out their own investigations, nor do they have right to press platforms with no legal basis into conduction criminal investigations. This is evidenced by Article 5B of Criminal Procedures Code:

4/x

Second, in also refusing to share evidence and start actual investigative and prosecutive processes, these people making the accusations without necessary reporting are committing a crime in itself. This is evidenced by Article 126 of the Child Protection Act 2019;

5/x

This article clearly states the legal punishments deserving of any person who refuses to share evidence of known child abuse situations with the relevant authorities:

2-5 years in jail.

6/x

Consent of the survivor is important in reporting cases of sexual abuse and violence. However the law makes special provisions for cases involving minors, as they legally cannot give consent. If their lives are in danger, any person with info must immediately report;

7/x

This is the biggest issue - Afnan Latheef, Isha Afeef, Shafa Rameez, and Ryyyshh have expressed direct sentiments about knowing details of criminal acts pertaining to children but have not shared evidence with any authority thus far;

8/x

It can also be seen here that Afnan Latheef expresses that she has consent from the survivor to report this, but is waiting to collect more stories;

9/x

Given the nature of these claims, there is no basis for having to "wait to get more content", especially given the survivor has given the "go" to report this. Withholding this information for "the right time" by Afnan Latheef is an offence in itself, evidenced above;

10/x

Furthermore, as people well-versed in human rights activism, both Afnan Latheef and Isha Afeef has legal and moral obligations to share this evidence and ensure justice is received for the minors - but let's consider two general excuses they may pose;

11/x

1) Waiting For The Right Time:
Every single moment lost without reporting acts against minors is in itself an act of offence. There is no quota to be filled to make an official complaint. Waiting for right time prolongs dangers that minors have to suffer. Unacceptable.

12/x

2) Not Trusting Authorities
The ppl making the accusations are extremely connected to both local and intl rights organisations + has a deep understanding of how to traverse legal and political landscapes to ensure justice is received...

13/x

....so the simple excuse of "not trusting authorities" does not hold either. If they truly wanted to ascertain justice for the children, this entire debacle should have been deftly dealt with, not devolve into identity politics;

14/x

Sadly, the entire fiasco has indeed devolved into attacking people who are close to the person the allegations were made against + more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon without proper facts or evidence being evidenced. Now cue the Cancel Crew;

15/x

This sets an extremely dangerous precedent, shows just how ill-informed we have been pertaining to cases of Child Abuse and VAW;

16/x

The MeToo movement is founded on the principle of believing survivors, yes, but it also necessitates anyone with info re: abuse, especially relating to minors, report this and facilitate proper investigation and prosecution through correct channels;

17/x

However, the people mentioned still remain silent re: evidence and regurgitate the same claims without providing any basis. For the sake of children, and the law, these ppl have a moral and legal obligation to share these evidences;

18/x

At this point, an observer may question whether these evidences may even exist, whether fabrication of allegations has occured for a personal or political gain, but none of that can be ascertained without the proper reporting and investigation;

19/x

It's been a year since these claims were brought to light. A year spent waiting for "right time" but the rhetorix of these people give inclination to a deeper personal or political game at play here;

20/x

This is horrific. This is not abt the person the allegations were made against. This is about the children behind the allegations that may be still in danger, but all discourse has seen to forgotten that. This fight is for wellbeing and protection of children;

21/x

As such, I call upon @MoGFSSmv to proactively and officially investigate these claims made by Afnan Latheef, Isha Afeef, Shafa Rameez and Ryyyshh - to ascertain facts and see whether there is merit to these claims;

22/x

This has gone on for far too long - your online activism and cancel culture has real world implications, and you need to accept the mantle of responsibility you have undertaken in "exposing and cancelling" people;

23/x

This concerns us all - cancel culture should not be allowed to proliferate without proper evidencing and due diligence. That equates to us devolving into Kangaroo Courts;

24/x

Where an accused person has the responsibility of proving their innocence, we forget that to actually accuse, the onus of responsibility in bringing allegations of minor abuse and VAW falls on ppl with the evidence; Shafa, Isha, Afnan, Ryyyshh.

Accept your responsibility.