The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Monday condemned the “continued detention of six individuals arrested during the peaceful protest on 3rd October,” accusing the government of denying them constitutional rights and spreading misinformation.
The detainees were “not given the opportunity to consult with a lawyer prior to the remand hearing – a clear violation of their constitutional right to legal counsel,” and the Criminal Court subsequently “extended their detention by an additional 15 days” and transferred them to Dhoonidhoo Custodial Jail, the party said in a press release.
The MDP also lambasted what it called a smear campaign against the detained protesters, suggesting government-aligned sources are falsely portraying them as criminals in order to “justify the unlawful arrests and discredit peaceful demonstrators.”
The party identified those held as former MPs Yaugoob Abdulla and Yasir Abdul Latheef, Maafushi Council President Hassan Solah, dive master Azeem Ali, graphic designer Ali Juman, and local salesperson Hussain Shakir. Two others — Hassan Zareer and Mohamed Khalaf Ibrahim — have since been released, the party said.
The MDP linked the arrests and treatment during detention and in court to a broader erosion of democracy in the Maldives, calling for “the immediate release of all those detained” and urging authorities to “uphold the Constitution, protect the rights of all citizens, and respect the freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.”