‘No choice’ but to enforce Supreme Court ruling: opposition

The government has no choice but to enforce a Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of political prisoners, an opposition spokesman said Friday.

MP Ahmed Mahloof told reporters the opposition would keep protesting until the ruling was fully enforced by authorities.

“It is a matter of whether it will happen today or tomorrow, but we know for certain that the government has no way out other than to implement the ruling,” Mahloof said.

Riot police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse people who had gathered in their thousands on Thursday night to celebrate the imminent freedom of high-profile prisoners including former president Mohamed Nasheed, former vice president Ahmed Adeeb, former defence minister Mohamed Nazim, Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim and Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla.

“Any second that the politicians are held after the issuance of the ruling is a second that the state is holding people hostage. The leaders of this government will not save any of the officers doing their bidding when the time comes. You have to save yourselves. So stop following unlawful orders,” Mahloof said.

Maldives Police Service and the Maldives Correctional Service both said they had received the ruling and were preparing to implement it.

Photo: @Lucasjalyl