Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodiq has said that he and his fellow councils will remain perseverant in speaking for the rights of all Maldivians.

Sodiq said this after the suspension imposed on both he and two other members of the council were lifted.

Sodiq alleged, referring to the suspension of a number of other councilors over comments regarding the government and its decisions as well, that President Abdulla Yameen is actively trying to centralize power by taking it away from local government councils.

The mayor was suspended along with deputy mayor Mohamed Yasraf, and councilors Jamsheedhaa Mohamed and Ali Fahumee.

They were suspended for calling on the government to implement the Supreme Court’s controversial order to release unfairly detained prisoners and reinstate lawmakers said to have been dismissed by the Elections Commission.