Umar thanks February 7 “cut-off team”

Home Minister Umar Naseer has thanked individuals who led protests on February 7, 2012 – which led to the downfall of former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Umar sent out a tweet on Sunday, describing February 7 as the day citizens got back their rights – a people’s power revolution.

He referred to Nasheed as a “dictator-in-the-making”, and said that he had to resign after citizens went on the streets to voice out their dissatisfaction with the government.

7th Feb 2012; A People's Power Revolution. A dictator in-the-making voluntarily resigned when 'Arab Spring' hit the Maldivean streets.

— Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerPPM) February 7, 2016

Umar thanked protesters who he described as the “cut-off-team” protecting others from tear gas and gangsters.

7th Feb: Karuna geyhaa, gang thakuge valhi thakuge kurimachah nukume, kuree safuga masah kaiy kuri 'Cut-off' team ah varah khaassa shukureh.

— Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerPPM) February 7, 2016

He said the protesters had stood up for Islamic religion, democracy and rule of law.

Nasheed has said that the protest was a coup d’etat and that his resignation had been forced out of him.

I thank all those who sacrificed and stood up for Islam, democracy and rule of law on the 7th Feb. Special thnx to our ground leaders.

— Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerPPM) February 7, 2016

Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who took over the role of president after Nasheed, set up a National Inquiry Commission to investigate what took place that day.

The commission announced after their deliberation that it was not a coup d’etat.

Nasheed was later sentenced for 13 years in jail for illegal incarceration of Judge Abdulla, and is currently in UK after being allowed to travel abroad for a back surgery.