Prominent lawyer Maumoon Hameed has challenged the state to a public debate on the legality of the state of emergency.

While President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency on 5th February, the public and international community have been critical on the reason for doing so.

In a tweet posted on Wednesday, Hameed called on the attorney general’s office, prosecutor general’s office, People’s Majlis and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) “to bring along as many lawyers” to the debate.

However, he said that it will just be him against them ‘just to make it a more even fight’.

Hameed attached an image to the tweet, of a page showing Article 257 of the Constitution, which states that ‘the declaration of a state of emergency shall be submitted to the People’s Majlis within forty-eight hours. If the People’s Majlis is not in session at the time of declaration, it shall be re-called within fourteen days, inclusive of holidays, and the declaration of a state of emergency submitted to the People’s Majlis for approval’.

The institutions are yet to respond to Hameed’s call.