MDP fined MVR 60,000

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has been fined MVR 60,000 for allegedly using its official Twitter account to encourage people to gather in front of police headquarters as MDP activist Naeema Mohamed (Naeematha) was taken there for questioning.

Secretary-General of Elections Commission, Ahmed Ali sent a letter to MDP last Friday, in which he said MDP had been given warning over similar calls for unlawful assembly, but that the EC had been receiving continuous complaints over calls for unlawful assembly despite the warnings.

“The commission finds the appeal made via your party’s official Twitter account to gather in front of the police headquarters on August 15, 2017 at 16:30 violates Article 7 (a) (ii) and Article 44 (f) of Political Parties Act, and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” wrote EC.

MDP Member Naeema Mohamed (Naeemaatha) Fulus Office ah haaziru kuraathy miadhu (15/8) 4:30 gai Fulus Office kairiah vadaigendhevvun edhen pic.twitter.com/M1YLGaQK8O

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) August 15, 2017

MDP has been instructed to pay the MVR 60,000 in fine within seven days.