Two arrested from youth protest remanded in custody for three days

Criminal Court, on Friday, has remanded the two individuals arrested from Thursday night’s youth protest demanding justice for the young woman who was found injured on the rooftop of a building in Male’ on April 18th, in custody for three days.

The two individuals who were arrested have been identified as Aishath Shiman Ahmed, 19, M. Hasthee and Abdulla Mahzoom Majidh, 28, Bageechage, N. Kudafari, former MDP administration’s deputy youth minister. They are both key organizers of the ongoing protests.

Shiman was arrested on suspicion of refusing to follow a police order and obstructing justice. Mahzoom was also arrested on the same charges, along with an additional charge of attempting to assault a police officer.

Thursday’s night’s peaceful protest escalated when a group of SO police officers used force to break it up, including pepper spray.

The arrest of the two protestors has sparked public backlash. Political parties, including MDP, The Democrats, and MDA have condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of Shiman and Mahzoom.

In a statement issued on early Friday morning, the Police defended their use of force, citing it was to protect the interests of students and the public, who have been adversely impacted by the protests. 

21-year-old Mariyam Yumnu was found injured on the rooftop of a warehouse in the Henveiru district at around 07:30 am on April 18.

The case of Yumnu, who spent nearly three hours on the rooftop of a warehouse before a neighbor saw her and alerted the authorities, has sparked serial protests in Male’, largely led by youths. The protests are followed by allegations of a police coverup after it became known that the individuals involved have family links to influential figures.