MDP condemns Imran being taken back to prison

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has condemned Adhaalath Party leader Abdulla Imran being taken back to prison after he was transferred to house arrest.

MDP released a statement saying that police entering Imran’s home late Saturday night and taking him back to prison was proof that there was “no stopping the cruelty and injustice of President Abdulla Yameen’s rule.”

MDP said that taking Imran back to prison was an act by government to threaten political leaders that criticize the government.

“Taking Sheikh Imran Abdulla in the middle of the night is proof that he is being treated grossly unjustly,” read the statement.

MDP repeated their plea to government to release all political prisoners.

Imran, who has been charged with terrorism, was transferred to house arrest through court order. It is unclear at this point why he was taken back to prison.

It is not the first time for Imran to be taken back to prison after being transferred to house arrest.

A similar incident occurred when authorities took him back to prison after they received an intelligence report. It is not clear why he was transferred back to house arrest either.

Imran has been charged with terrorism with State prosecutors accusing him of encouraging violence during the protest on May 1, 2015.

Imran has denied the charge against him.