Court extends detention of October 3 protest detainees
Legal representatives' request to review the 15-day detention order was denied by the court which found no basis to revise the detention period
A poster calls for the release of six arrested during the October 3 protest
The Criminal Court has extended the detention of individuals arrested during the October 3 protest, ordering that they remain in custody at Dhoonidhoo Prison for an additional 15 days.
The court's decision follows a request from legal representatives seeking a review of the initial 15-day detention order. The legal team argued that there was no longer justification to keep the detainees in custody. However, the court declined to amend its original ruling, stating there was no basis to revise the detention period.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the conditions under which the detainees are being held. Legal representatives allege that police have failed to provide basic services and medical attention. Among the reported incidents is the case of K. Maafushi Council President Hassan Solah, whose finger was reportedly broken during his arrest. Allegations suggest that police deliberately delayed his access to medical care, including obstructing an X-ray recommended by a doctor.
The detainees include several prominent political figures, such as former parliamentarians Yaugoob Abdulla and Yasir Abdul Latheef, Maafushi Council President Hassan Solah, as well as Ali Juman, Azeem Ali, and Hassan Shakir. In response to the detentions, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is actively mobilizing in various islands, including those where the detainees are from, demanding their immediate release.
The court’s decision and the reported treatment of detainees have further intensified scrutiny of law enforcement practices and the handling of political dissent.
