Hussain Siraj has been elected as the new President of the Bar Council.
Siraj secured the position after contesting against Mohamed Faisal in the elections for the vacant presidency of the Bar Council. He received 224 votes, while Faisal acquired 172 votes.
Moreover, Ibrahim Shifau, who ran unopposed for a position on the Bar Council's Executive Committee, was also elected. With no other candidates contesting, Shifau was elected by an abstention vote, with 248 lawyers voting in favor and 88 voting against him.
The Bar Council's members are elected through a vote among all registered lawyers in the Maldives. In this election, 396 out of 991 registered lawyers participated in the voting process, which was conducted online through 'Fahi Vote'.
Hussain Siraj, the newly elected President, previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Maldives International Arbitration Center (MIAC) and as a board member at the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). Additionally, he held the position of Vice Commissioner at the Elections Commission (EC). He completed his law studies at Middlesex University London.
The position became vacant following the passing of the former President of the Bar Council, Ismail Wisham, on January 31, 2024.