Malé, Maldives – Deputy Leader of People’s National Congress (PNC) and MP of Maduvvari constituency Adam Shareef has filed a motion with the Parliament requesting an investigation into the arrest of his two parliamentary colleagues who got arrested during the opposition coalition protests on Friday.
MPs of Maavah and Guraidhoo, Mohamed Saeed and Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon were both arrested during the “Neyvaaholhiah” protests led by the opposition, which authorities described as unlawful and discouraged against.
They were both presented to court in handcuffs and were released from custody with conditions that have been not disclosed.
However, Adam Shareef escalated the matter to the Parliament and asked for an investigation, citing violations of Parliament’s Powers and Privileges Act by arresting officers.
He also claimed undue and excessive force was used when arresting the pair and said that their faces were pepper sprayed and that they were held in handcuffs at Dhoonidhoo Detention Center.
Shareef further referred to regulations and stated that the Speaker of the Parliament is required to convene the Privileges Committee of the Parliament as soon as possible after hearing of a Parliamentarians arrest and also highlighted that the Speaker should have been notified of any Parliamentarian’s arrest with in at least an hour.
Apart from the two MPs, a total of 15 other protestors were also arrested in relation to the protest, including a former MP and the sitting Deputy Mayor of Malé City Council. However, many have been released, but nine still remain in custody.
