Male’, Maldives – President of People’s National Congress (PNC), Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey) and the party’s Vice President Ibrahim Shujau have been released by Maldives Police Service earlier today.
They were arrested yesterday during protests, against the Indian gifted Covishield vaccine, held by the opposition coalition consisting of PNC and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) outside Dharubaaruge.
The Opposition protesting Male’ violated numerous guidelines by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) due to the Covid-19 pandemic such as social distancing were not followed during the protest.
Their release, after being sent to prison island K. Dhoonidhoo, has been confirmed by the opposition coalition’s spokesperson Heena Waleedh.
The two were also arrested at earlier protests demanding the local council elections to be held earlier. They were released the same day of their arrest without being brought to court.
Opposition leaders have been claiming they are receiving various threats and harassment from the government, but “will not back down” until justice is served for former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom. President Yameen is currently serving a 5 year prison sentence for money laundering, and the ongoing protests are a part of the opposition’s actions against the rejection of his appeal by the High Court of Maldives.
