Nasheed urges gov’t to end crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly
Nasheed’s call to halt the government's efforts to suppress the right to assembly and freedom of expression comes amid growing assertions from MDP, as well as from a significant number of ordinary citizens.
Fomer president, Mohamed Nasheed
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has called on the government to cease its ongoing efforts to suppress the right to assembly and freedom of expression.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, the former president urged the government to immediately release the fishermen arrested on Fishermen’s Day, along with MP for Kendhoo constituency Mauroof Zakir, who had been peacefully advocating for the rights of fishermen.
Nasheed specifically called for the immediate release of Mohamed Sadiq, Abdul Latheef Ahmed, and Mohamed Musthafa, who were arrested alongside MP Mauroof.
In addition to these three fishermen, the Criminal Court had on Friday extended MP Mauroof’s remand by five days.
However, following widespread criticism and mounting government pressure, MP Mauroof was subsequently released.
At the time of Mauroof’s release by the government, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had already submitted the case of his detention to both the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Nasheed’s call to halt the government's efforts to suppress the right to assembly and freedom of expression comes amid growing assertions from MDP, as well as from a significant number of ordinary citizens.
Both groups argue that the arrests made during the fishermen's protest were intended to intimidate and silence critics of the government’s flawed policies.
In connection with Fishermen’s Day, observed on December 10, yellowfin tuna fishermen conducted a peaceful protest at sea. The protest, which began with 49 vessels, saw the fishermen demanding that the current government fulfill the promises made to them.
During the protest, the fishermen primarily presented three demands to the government; to begin purchasing skipjack tuna through the state-owned fisheries company, MIFCO, as outlined in the government’s manifesto; to establish a minimum purchase price for skipjack tuna between MVR 80 and MVR 100 per kilogram; and to ensure that fishermen receive fuel and ice at base rates.
