'MP Faris in jail for having more support than Yameen and cronies'

Ahmed Faris Maumoon, the parliamentary representative for the Dhiggaru constituency, was targeted because he has more support than incumbent President Abdulla Yameen ‘and his cronies’, the Maldivian Democratic Party has said.

The party said in a statement on Wednesday night, released to mark nine months since the parliamentarian was imprisoned, that the state’s prosecution of him is an example of ‘the current misguided condition of the judiciary’.

The statement also highlighted the Supreme Court’s ruling on February 1st included Faris as one of the nine individuals who are being unfairly detained.

MP Faris is facing charges of bribery and identity fraud, although he is being held under Maldives' ongoing state of emergency.