Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir was arrested on Thursday during a fishermen’s protest after police boarded several vessels taking part in the demonstration. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentary group has since filed a complaint with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), saying the arrest breached parliamentary protections and fundamental rights.
Police said they intervened because foreigners were participating in the protest. Officers arrested four foreigners, seized three fishing vessels and detained fishermen from two of the boats. Mauroof told media shortly before his arrest that police boarded the vessels and detained those on board without showing a court order.
The protest was organised by the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) and began on Wednesday morning. A total of 49 fishing vessels from different parts of the country joined. Fishermen demanded that the government start buying fish, raise the fish-buying price and ensure the availability of fuel and ice at base rates.
The MDP parliamentary group said it would ask the IPU to take measures to protect the integrity of parliament, the rights of members and adherence to the rule of law. The group referred the case to the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and also raised the matter with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
The group asked the CPA to investigate the arrest under rules designed to prevent political pressure on MPs. It condemned what it described as the illegal arrest of Mauroof and others and called for the immediate release of anyone whose fundamental rights and freedoms had been violated.
Police have not commented on the arrest.