Protestors call to free ex-president Nasheed

A rally was held in the streets of Male’ on Friday evening with protestors calling for government authorities to free former president and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed from prison.

The rally marks the first time opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) took to the streets after a break of two months. The protest began and ended peacefully with no disputes between protestors and police.

The rally began from MDP Office near Artificial Beach and ended in the same spot after a walk around Male’.

The protestors made stops at different locations and expressed their feelings over the court ruling which put Mohamed Nasheed in prison for 13 years on terror charges.

MDP Spokesperson and North-Mafannu MP Imthiyaaz Fahmy expressed concern over lack of arrests made in the stabbing of Mahfooz Saeed – a member of Nasheed’s legal team – an incident which took place in broad daylight.

MDP’s rallies stopped two months ago when Nasheed was transferred to house arrest, put promised to start up street protests once again after Nasheed was taken back to prison.

Protestors also called for release of former Defense Minister Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim – serving an 11-year prison sentence on weapons charges, and Adhaalath Party leader Imran Abdulla – ordered to put under arrest until end of his trial.