Galolhu South constituency MP Ahmed Mahloof, who was released on Friday after a nearly 11-month jail sentence, has said that “this tyrannical government has turned the whole country into a prison”.

Speaking for the first time after his release at an opposition rally on Friday night, the MP said that despite being released from prison, that “this is an even bigger prison” than Maafushi Prison.

Mahloof assured that he will continue to do all that’s necessary for reform, including ensuring that all political detainees are released. He added that he will also make the necessary sacrifices in seeking justice for murdered parliamentarian Afrashim Ali, missing journalist Ahmed Rilwan and murdered blogger Yameen Rasheed.

“I will remain steadfast in the reform work, even if that means that I have to return to jail”, he said, adding that this is “a corrupt, tyrannical government”.

He further added that they will continue their work to topple the government “through legal means”.

While a number of opposition supporters and well-wishers had gathered near the headquarters of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Friday night to welcome back the lawmaker, Mahloof thanked them but refused to take any of the credit.

“This is in no way is just for me. It is for the reform movement”, he said.

Mahloof was sentenced to two consecutive jail terms that amount to 10 months and 24 days for obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

He had appealed both sentences at the High Court, with the Court, on Thursday, upholding the Criminal Court ruling, while two days prior to his release the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) called on the government to immediately release Mahloof, as well as to pay the damages he might have incurred during his time in prison.