Translation: Sheikh Imran’s speech at May Day mass rally

Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to 12 years in prison last night over the following speech he gave at a mass anti-government rally in Malé on May 1, 2015.

To bring an end to brutality. To bring an end to brutality. To all the courageous, honourable and dear Maldivian heroes gathered here on the 1st of May, may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Yes, we have gathered here to bring an end to brutality. Why are we all here? Why are we here? Look Ahmed Adeeb! Look Ahmed Adeeb! We are gathered here. We are gathered here to bring an end to brutality.We are gathered here to bring an end to brutality.

Yes, [Hussain] Humam spoke the truth. Humam spoke the truth. Human said both President [Abdulla] Yameen and Ahmed Adeeb would know the people who murdered Dr Afrasheem best. Both of them would know. Yes, these two people are the most brutal two people in this country. We all stand against this brutality. To bring an end to this brutality. Are you people ready? Are you ready? Do you have the courage? Are you ready?

None of you must step back, none of you must step back, with courage step forward, yes! This country of ours, our dear nation has with the blessings of Allah been a free, independent, proud, honourable, benevolent and peaceful country since 2,500 years ago. That was how we maintained our country. This country is moving forward in that way. It is a duty of you dear citizens to deliver this country in that way to our future generations. It is a duty of you dear citizens to deliver this country in that way.

Are you ready to do that? Are you ready? Are you ready to do that? Yes! This country, we have to deliver this country to our future generations. Shall I say? We had to come until this day, we had to come until this day, brutality – we have no means of saving ourselves from a brutal government. I speak to President Yameen. In order to bring President Yameen’s government, I worked extremely hard (He paused due to a large sound). In order to bring the government, we worked extremely hard. And after that we worked extremely hard in order to maintain the government in a good way.

As a responsibility of my own, I showed the government every possible path. I assisted the government. I tried to move forward with the government. Yes, this work, one after the other, events unravelled and upon the case of Colonel [Mohamed] Nazim I knew, I was sure, this government did not have a single good intention. Not a single bit of sincerity. No kindness for the citizens. No compassion for the citizens. No spirit of moving forward with the citizens, no ambition.

Yes! From this moment onwards, after studying Colonel Nazim’s case, I knew with great clarity the truth behind this case. No doubt, this was the doing of both Ahmed Adeeb and Hussein Waheed. Yes today, you all must put an end to the doings of these two people. Must send these two people home, alright? Yes, Ahmed Adeeb and, Ahmed Adeeb and Hussein Waheed, all legal procedures required must be followed with respect to them and the responsibility of it all is on your heads. Are you ready?

We are informing very clearly. We are informing very clearly, be it President Yameen, Ahmed Adeeb or Hussein Waheed, we will not inflict any harm. We are not hurtful people. We are people against brutality. We came out against brutality. Therefore, no matter how serious an offender he or she is, God willingly they will suffer no harm from us. We will not harm. But, we are people who will deliver rights. People who will uphold rights on this ground. People who will deliver justice. We will obtain rights. Are you people ready? Are you people ready? Yes, it is in your hands alright?

Yes! Today we had to come this far, today, it has been roughly more than 2 years since the murder of our Dr. Afrasheem, being roughly 2 years, according to what Humam said, President Yameen and Ahmed Adeeb know best. Until today, President Yameen has sincerely done nothing to investigate and solve Dr. Afrasheem’s case. As a result, when the blood of our citizens are being shed, a leader who would not uphold the rights of the blood spilled is not a leader who can stay alright? Such a person wouldn’t stay alright?

From now on, President Yameen can continue to stay on, only after he comes to the table with us. He will be watching now. I’m saying. Keep courage within yourselves. Keep courage. President Yameen – we do not want to govern. We do not want to topple the government. We do not want anyone’s government. Nevertheless, we want to obtain rights for the innocent blood that has been spilled. We will do that today God willingly. We will do that today with the blessings of Allah.

Yes! We have witnessed, we have witnessed, the Rilwan who we can see from here. Yes Rilwan, until today, the police have been unable to provide any information on whatever happened to Rilwan. The Police do know what happened. The Police do know what happened. There are reports at the Police. The investigation is at the Police. But, this brutal government, Ahmed Adeeb and Hussein Waheed have withheld these reports. There shall be no room for this from today onwards. From today onwards, there shall be no room for this God willingly. If Allah Almighty wills. From today onwards, there shall be no room to withhold these reports. We receive different news, according to what some people say, he has been chopped up and put into a sack, according to some others, he has been sunk into the depths of the ocean. The truth behind this needs to be revealed by the police.

Yes! In relation to Dr. Afrasheem, roughly 7 people related to Dr. Afrasheem were killed and fallen onto this ground. What is the reality that Yameen knows? On the day Yameen repeatedly spoke out from his own tongue and convicted Humam, he said that it would easier to find the real murderers once Human had been sentenced to the death penalty. Here it is in my hands. Here are the documents alright? I have all the documents in my hands. Since there is no time today…Here they are alright? Dear Maldivian citizens. Here they are alright? Here are the documents… for these rights. Behind this is, Hussein

Behind this is, Hussein Wahee – Hussein Waheed and, Hussein Waheed and, Hussein Waheed and Adeeb. Yes, if we let this go, our country will never be able to save itself. Ahmed Adeeb is connected, Ahmed Adeeb is connected. We spoke even last night. Ahmed Adeeb is connected to the world’s most powerful mafia gangs. The world’s mafia gangs control him.

All dear citizens, if you let it go today, this country can never be able to save itself. This country cannot save itself in the years to come. Yes therefore, we have to move forward with great confirmation. To move forward with great confirmation.

All dear citizens. Be patient. Be patient. We will make dua at nightfall. After making dua, you all must stand up in a different manner. Until then be patient, be patient. Upon concluding, I would like to give a very clear message to our dear police and military forces. Yes, it is very clearly stated in this country’s constitution that it is a government of the people. The government will be maintained by the people and the people will thus protect this government. We citizens brought the government and when this brutal government is gotten rid of, it is the responsibility of the citizens to ameliorate the government.

And especially in the current world, in such an environment, it is the responsibility of the citizens to ameliorate the government when it has fallen off the wagon. Yes, in the work that is being done for the citizens to ameliorate the government, do not graze the bodies of citizens with your fingertips with anything but their rights. Do not harm any citizen. Do not abuse any citizen. You all are us. We are you. Today, in saving this country from brutality, in saving it from the hands of evildoers, give your assistance to these dear Maldivian citizens. Approximately 35,000 dear Maldivian citizens gathered here today represent approximately 300,000 citizens of this country. Yes therefore, there is no government that the police and military have to protect having caused harm to these citizens. There is no minister that the police and military have to protect having disregarded these citizens.

Yes, therefore, we are well aware of the fact that Ahmed Adeeb pays several million Maldivian Rufiyaa to some police and lets out gang children out on the streets to harm us, to cause us loss, and to cause bloodshed from our bodies. Therefore, our dear police, give no room for any police caught under the spell of Ahmed Adeeb to cause any harm to our people. Keep us in the way of justice and keep us in the right way. Dear benevolent, honest police and military, keep to your promise and your promise to save dear Maldivian citizens from bloodshed from our bodies, from breaking a part of our bodies, from beating us with batons. Do not cause bloodshed from the bodies of these citizens. We do not want a single drop of blood to shed onto the ground from the body of a single citizen.

I swear upon the Almighty Allah, that I do not want a single drop of blood to shed onto the ground from the body of a single citizen. We do not want. But Ahmed Adeeb would order to even gunfire. He would order to even kill these citizens. Help these citizens. Help these citizens earn their rights. Stand with the citizens. Move forward with the citizens. These two departments are our two safeguarding departments. This country’s most honourable, most prestigious, most respectable two departments. We stand together with both departments. We all stand under the protection of both departments. Both departments shall move forward.

Yes, therefore, in this activity, our members in high positions, yes, our members in high positions will advise you all as to what is to be done and how to get it done. Step forward in that way. If Allah Almighty wills, this brutality, if Allah Almighty wills, this brutality shall be brought to an end. Your courage, your objective, your readiness, are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready? Have courage.

Thank you very much.

Translated by Sheikh Imran’s lawyer Husnu Suood.