Male [Maldives], Feb 8 : Protesters have gathered at the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) campaign centre Haruge and have been calling for the implementation of Supreme Court order to release nine political prisoners.
“Protesters gathered at MDP’s campaign centre Haruge call on the government [to] stop intimidating the judiciary and to free political prisoners, including the 9 specified in the Supreme Court’s ruling on 1 February,” the MDP Secretariat tweeted.
Hussein’s statement comes after President Abdulla Yameen ordered a state of emergency in the country and gave sweeping powers to the law enforcement agencies and the military.
Earlier, according to media reports, the security forces arrested the top judge after the declaration of the state of emergency.
Joint Opposition spokesperson Ahmed Mahloof said that officials within the government are threatening the Member of Parliament (MPs) of the opposition party.
Yameen, who has been defying Supreme Court’s orders, directing him to release former president Mohamed Nasheed, and free eight other political opponents from prison, has given sweeping powers to security forces in the country, which is facing widespread protests against the president.
The opposition and general public have been unrelentingly asking President Yameen to step down and allow a new leadership to take charge.
