Watchdog asked to probe 36 ‘unlawful’ arrests

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party on Tuesday asked the police watchdog to investigate 36 arrests made after a state of emergency was declared last month.

More than 300 people were arrested during demonstrations against the “unlawful” 45-day emergency rule, many of whom were subject to police brutality, MDP chairman Hassan Latheef told Raajje TV, after accompanying the released detainees to file complaints.

“We still have some complaint forms that are being processed. These are cases that the National Integrity Commission must look into,” he said.

The party have also been lodging complaints against individual officers who enforced unlawful orders, Latheef said.

The MDP’s top leadership was rounded up after President Abdulla Yameen suspended constitutional rights and gave sweeping powers to police, alleging a coup plot instigated with a Supreme Court order for the release of his jailed opponents.

The party’s vice president, along with activists and several council members, were released before the state of emergency expired last week. But several opposition lawmakers and high-profile figures remain in custody.

NIC, the oversight body for law enforcement agencies, is now chaired by former elections commissioner Ahmed Sulaiman.

MDP initiates submission of complaints forms to @NIC_Maldives by detainees who were arrested & released following the unconstitutional SoE declared by the Maldives regime on 5 February.MDP will continue this process to ensure required actions are taken by the relevant authorities pic.twitter.com/qG5VyKf4aL

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) March 27, 2018