MDP VP Shifaz released

Vice President of the main opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Shifaz Mohamed has been released.

The police spokesperson said that Shifaz was given advice and released last night.

Shifaz was arrested for using a megaphone after 11 p.m. last night, to give a speech at the MDP campaign hall near Artificial Beach.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act prohibits the use of megaphones after 11:00 p.m.

According to MDP, police officers entered the campaign hall without a court order. MDP Spokesperson Imthiyaz Fahmy described it as a cowardly move by the government to suppress MDP’s political presence.

The police spokesperson acknowledged that police officers entered the campaign hall without a court order, and when asked if this is lawful, he declined to comment.

Police warned earlier that protests will be broken up after midnight.