The Maldives Police Service has said that MP Abdulla Riyaz, representative of the Kinbidhoo constituency, was arrested on Friday under the state of emergency.

Officers of the police’s special operations unit apprehended MP Riyaz at Friday’s rally, where participants called to ensure independence of the judiciary.

Riyaz was arrested alongside former speaker of parliament and sitting-MP Abdulla Shahid, also a long-serving statesman. Police have not stated that the situation extends to Shahid as well.

Both parliamentarians were apprehended while at the sidelines of the rally, and had not resisted as officers began to apprehend them.

Police had arrested MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed at Friday’s rally as well, along with over 15 other individuals.