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Gayoom's daughter urges siblings to join opposition

Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's daughter Yumna Maumoon has urged her sister and brother Dunya and Ghassan Maumoon to leave their uncle and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government and join the opposition effort to reform the country.

Speaking during a program on opposition aligned VTV, Yumna criticized the current government's scandalous activities and corruption, stressing on the importance of the work carried out by the opposition. She also noted her father Gayoom and brother Faris' stand against the government and their ideology over the unjust nature of the current regime.

Yumna called out to her sister Dunya and younger brother Ghassan to join her as well as Faris and father's cause - to uphold justice and integrity of the system.

"I advice them [Dunya and Ghassan] to join our cause to bring justice and transparency to Maldives - we are fighting for the right of all Maldivian citizens. We are trying to restore democracy once again" Yumna said.

Despite her request to her siblings to join their cause, Yumna was not subtle to remark the political belief and diverse opinion over it. She also stated how high-profile families have their members divided across the political spectrum insisting that it was rare to witness every member of the family supporting one certain political party or belief.

While a political partition has divided the four siblings of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Dunya had attended her brother Faris Maumoon's court hearing on Sunday.

After attending her brother, Dhiggaru MP Faris Maumoon's hearing on Sunday, Dhunya told Avas that her loyalty to uncle and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had not changed.

"I am still the State Minister and that has not changed, neither have I resigned" Dunya confirmed after several opposition supporters claimed that the former foreign minister's loyalty to the government and her uncle had waned over her brother's jailing.

Faris is on trial for allegedly attempting to buy-off and influence lawmakers to back the opposition led move to unseat the parliament speaker. Additionally he has been charged with misuse of Progressive Party of Maldives' logo and flag as well as impersonation.