Police stops MDP rally

Police has stopped the MDP rally held on the streets on Malé City today.

MDP Secretary General, Abdul Sattaar told Sun Media that the Police ordered to the party said that the rally cannot be held at the Fareedhee Magu junction near Seagull Café. He said that MDP made no plans to hold a protest today and as before, a decision was made to hold a rally.

“We did not hold a protest. We conducted a rally. Maldives Police Service did not order us that a rally cannot be help. So this is something unlawful done to narrow the right to express opinion.”

Police told Sun Media today that the necessary orders to MDP were sent last night. But did not say which orders they were.

A statement issued by the Police last night said that MDP has been notified that protest rally cannot be help at the corner of Seagull Café via document and text.

The Police ordered the participants of the rally to disperse the moment the rally began to no avail from the participants.

The work of some of the journalists covering the rally was also obstructed by the Police today.

The MDP rally today began near Seagull Café and later took towards Majeedhee Magu on Fareedhee Magu. The rally was obstructed by the Police en route. The rally ended at 6 p.m.

MDP said that no one can obstruct the right to free speech and the party would continue to hold similar events.