Detainees from Lootuvaifi rally transferred to Dhoonidhoo Prison
Eight protesters were arrested during the 'Lootuvaifi' anti-government protest with six still detained in Dhoonidhoo Prison
Some of the individuals arrested during the October 3 rally
The individuals arrested during the "Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!" protest. a mass mobilization against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government, have now been transferred to Dhoonidhoo Prison. Authorities cited overcrowding at Malé Custodial as the reason for the move.
Of the eight arrested at the peaceful protest, only two have been released. Those still held include prominent political figures and civic leaders including former parliamentarians Yasir Abdul Latheef and Yaugoob Abdulla, Maafushi Council President Hassan Solah, as well as Ali Jumaan, Azmee Ali, and Hassan Shakir. Each was handed a 15-day detention order on 4 October 2025.
Saturday night saw renewed protests erupt across central Malé City, as the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and supporters demanded the immediate release of those still detained. The demonstrations, held at key city intersections including Majeedhee Magu-Chandhanee Magu junction and the Atholhuvehi region, signaled deepening resistance against what many view as an increasingly authoritarian administration.
Friday night’s rally, the largest to date against the Muizzu administration, thundered with chants against alleged constitutional subversion, the erosion of institutional independence, and systemic corruption. Protesters did not mince words, calling for the president’s resignation and a return to democratic accountability.
The government's response was swift and severe. Security forces deployed what observers have condemned as excessive and unlawful measures to crush the protest. Protesters were targeted with pepper spray at close range, and the use of sound weapons was reported, raising serious questions about the legality and proportionality of police conduct. One protester remains in critical condition in the ICU at IGMH.
MDP has vowed to escalate the matter, pledging to report these abuses to all relevant national and international authorities. As detentions continue and public fury mounts, the government's grip on dissent is now under intense scrutiny.
