Malé, Maldives – Of the 22 individuals who were arrested during a protest organized by the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), all except for PPM Vice President and Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam have been detained in custody.
MP Shiyam was taken into custody after protesters stopped President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih’s motorcade last night.
The police charged him with violating the Assembly Act by gathering on the streets of the capital and obstructing the President’s motorcade.
Shiyam was released after spending approximately four hours in police custody.
The police have not commented on the protest, including the number of people arrested or the charges against them. However, some witnesses claimed that ten women and eleven men were detained during the demonstration.
The President and his wife were returning to Malé after attending the International Women’s Day celebrations and the Rehendhi Awards ceremony in Hulhumalé when the protesters blocked the motorcade and halted it near the PPM office area.