MDP: Rally detainees not allowed to meet lawyers

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged that individuals detained during a rally held last Friday have been denied access to their legal counsel.

Among those arrested at the MDP's "Lootuvaifi" protest on Friday evening were former parliament members and current island councillors. These include former Kulhudhuffushi North MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, former Dhaandhoo MP Yaugoob Abdullah, Maafushi Council President Hassan Solah, and Addu Hithadhoo Rasgedhara Councilor Hassan Zareer.

Eight individuals were initially apprehended during the rally. Zareer and Mohamed Khalaf Ibrahim, who was also arrested at the event, have since been released. Khalaf stated that he was arrested while returning home from college, having become caught in the midst of the protesters.

On Monday, the Criminal Court extended the remand of six individuals by 15 days and ordered their transfer to Dhoonidhoo Custodial.

The MDP expressed concern that the detainees are being denied the opportunity to meet with their lawyers, asserting that this constitutes a deprivation of their constitutional right to legal aid. The party warned that such actions would erode public confidence in the judicial system.

The MDP also addressed what it described as false information circulating about the arrested members having criminal records, suggesting this is an attempt to justify the police's "illegal arrest" of rally participants. The party has called for the immediate release of its members currently in custody.

In a prior statement, the MDP reported that its Hulhumale' Central Constituency Vice President, Mohamed Raslan, suffered a heart attack and required hospital treatment after being subjected to pepper spray and a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). The MDP highlighted that LRADs, used to disperse the rally, can cause hearing impairment, dizziness, vomiting, and various other health issues.

An emergency motion was put forward in parliament on Monday, alleging the use of LRAD and excessive force to disperse the MDP rally.

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) is currently investigating the police's use of LRAD at the MDP rally. Furthermore, an online petition has been launched, urging the government to investigate the matter.

In a statement issued last Friday night, defending the use of force to disperse the MDP rally, police stated that the maintenance of law and order, alongside "patience and professionalism," was their priority during the dispersal. The statement claimed that protesters took to the streets and acted in violation of a previously agreed-upon arrangement with the police. According to the police, rally participants attempted to proceed through Majeedhee Magu despite prior instructions to continue the rally as initially agreed.