A second protest was not announced to give the government time: Imran

Sheikh Imran Abdullah, President of Adhaalath Party, has said that a date for a second protest similar to the one held yesterday calling for the protection of Islam, was not announced in order to give the government time to change their policies and revise their decisions.

Speaking after the demonstrations he said that they wish to give the government time to respond to the demands posed yesterday, and they will support the government in this aspect. He further said that if this is a democratic government, he believes that the government will respond to the people’s demands.

He also said that a deadline is not essential, and that the government’s failure to act on these issues will be met by Maldivians taking the matter into their own hands.

Speaking after the protests, Adhaalath Party’s Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said that the protest was held after intense discussion and organised in such a way that it could be carried out peacefully.

He also said that the fact that the protest lasted for as long as it did, and was peaceful nevertheless, is a good example even from an international perspective.