President's actions reveal state of emergency to be unnecessary: MP Ali Hussein

The state of emergency currently in effect in the Maldives is blatantly unnecessary and this clearly demonstrated by the attitude and actions of the president, said MP Ali Hussein.

Speaking at an opposition rally on Friday, Hussein said that President Abdulla Yameen has been seen at a number of ruling party and government organized events.

Hussein said that this demonstrates that there clearly is no risk of national security, and that the declaration of a state of emergency is unnecessary.

He further referred to President Yameen’s comments on the declaration to say that it is not completely lawful.

President Yameen said in his first public appearance since the declaration that the decision was made in order to have members of the judiciary held accountable.

The Supreme Court had, on 1st February, ruled that the Judicial Services Commission cannot oversee cases involving justices on its bench. After having declared a state of emergency, said justices had been apprehended.

Local law firm, Premier Chambers, on Friday released a statement to say that the government had failed to follow processes that need to be fulfilled before such a declaration and that the decisions made after are void.