Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's administration first attacked journalists.

Speaking at the ‘in defense of the Constitution’ mass gathering staged by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Tuesday night at the Carnival region, Solih said that as soon as the current administration came to power, they first attacked journalists, and they began intimidating journalists from the very first day.

He said that they have gone to the extent of shutting down newspapers and arresting journalists in connection with their writings. However, Solih said that even on that day, many journalists bravely confronted this and continued their work. He added that as a result, the government had to back down. Further, Solih said that people need to take to the streets bravely to change what the citizens want in the country, and they need to raise their voices. He said that when people take to the streets, the government will be forced to listen.

Highlighting that rights are written in the constitution, Solih said that freedom of speech and freedom to seek and receive information are guaranteed, and that the right to receive a pension and free healthcare from the government is also ensured. However, Solih said that in recent days, the incumbent has been working to strip all these rights.