Three institutions summoned to Parliament Privileges Committee

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) and the Prosecutor General (PG) have been summoned by the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, to clarify whether the police acted within the limits of the laws and regulations when arresting Medhu-Henveyru MP Ali Azim.

President of PIC, Dr Abdulla Waheed, said while answering questions posed by the committee members, that the PIC team that monitored the protest noted that the police did not act fittingly when arresting Azim.

PIC members said at the committee meeting that the case regarding Azim’s arrest is now under investigation by the PIC, and that they will scrutinise whether the police acted within the limits of the law when arresting Azim.

PIC members also noted that protesters often use disrespectful, offensive language against police officers and their families, but the protest during which Azim was arrested was peaceful compared to other protests under the ongoing series by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Waheed said that the ongoing series of protests by MDP can hardly be counted as peaceful, and highlighted that protesters throw objects such as bottles at police officers.

Speaking at the committee meeting, PG Ahmed Muizzu said that the PG Office is investigating Azim’s arrest and the developments that followed the arrest.

He said that whether any activity took place in violation of the relevant laws and regulations, will be decided after this investigation.

Muizzu said that he believes that the police would keep their actions within the boundaries of the laws and regulations when arresting an individual, and noted that the relevant regulations prescribe the procedure on arresting and handcuffing an individual.

He added that similarly, he does not believe that the police would arrest and attempt to build a case against an individual who did not commit any crime.

Speaking at the commission, members of the HRCM said that they are also investigating Azim’s arrest and the developments that followed the arrest, and that they are monitoring the current series of protests by MDP.