Jumhooree Party deputy leader Abdulla Riyaz had been kept in a detention cell unfit for ‘even animals’ when initially incarcerated, says fellow lawmaker Ali Hussain.

Hussain said this while speaking at a panel discussion hosted by the Joint Opposition on Wednesday over the condition of several of their members currently in detention.

The lawmaker said that Riyaz had been kept in violation of the anti-torture act and the judicial proceedings that resulted in his incarceration had also been unfair. 

Hussain highlighted that lawmakers are representatives of the public and to unjustly jail one is to unfairly silence the voices of an entire constituency.

Riyaz was acquitted of obstructing the conduct of a law enforcement officer by the Criminal Court. His acquittal was repealed by a later High Court ruling.