The widely followed pseudonymous X account, @HKurusee, was reinstated on Tuesday after its suspension earlier this week, sparking widespread online support and renewed discussions about freedom of expression in the Maldives.
The reinstatement came following a social media campaign under the hashtag #BringBackHKurusee, which quickly became the top trending topic in the Maldives. Known for exposing alleged corruption and criticising political figures, the account has garnered over 40,000 followers and played a significant role in shaping public narratives during the recent presidential and parliamentary elections.
It is alleged that government officials and supporters targeted the account and mass reported it, abusing X’s rules to force its suspension.
In his first post following reinstatement, @HKurusee wrote: “You can cut my head off, but I will not bow down,” followed by another post thanking supporters: “Thank you everyone for your support. It means a lot. I saw it all.”
The account then directly addressed the administration of President Mohamed Muizzu, posting: “The fact that #BringBackHKurusee is currently trending in Maldives at number 1 is enough message to @MMuizzu.”
Teasing further developments, @HKurusee announced the release of a significant document alleging corruption, scheduled for 3 p.m.
The suspension and reinstatement have reignited public debate surrounding the role of anonymous accounts in political discourse. Supporters argue that @HKurusee serves as a whistleblower exposing corruption and holding officials accountable, while critics accuse the account of spreading unverified information and disinformation.
As of now, neither X nor the Maldivian government has commented on the suspension or reinstatement.