MDP protests nationwide for detained Lootuvaifi rally members

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has launched a series of protests calling for the release of six of its members arrested during the party’s 'Lootuvaifi' rally held in Male' City last Friday evening.

Speaking at a rally in front of the MDP booth on Wednesday, former Deputy Chairperson and ex-Hulhumale' MP Ali Niyaz claimed the arrests were politically motivated.

He referenced President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s earlier statement that political prisoners will not stay in jail, and called for the immediate release of the detainees.

Niyaz announced that the campaign will extend beyond Male', with posters planned to be put up across the islands where the detainees are from. “We will be putting up posters not only in Male' City, but also in the atolls this week, visiting the various islands of the detainees,” he said.

The six individuals currently held at Dhoonidhoo Custodial Jail are:

• Yaugoob Abdullah, Former MP for Dhaandhoo  
• Yasir Abdul-Latheef, Former MP for Kulhudhuffushi North  
• Hassan Solah, President of Maafushi Council  
• Azim Ali 
• Ali Juman, Former Senior Administrative Assistant at the President’s Office  
• Hassan Shakir

The party continues to assert that the arrests were unjust and part of a broader crackdown on peaceful political expression.

The detainees had briefly launched a hunger strike on Tuesday, which ended late Wednesday evening.