An employee at the State Trading Organization (STO) has been fired for casting his vote in the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s primary election.

Ibrahim Mohamed, an MDP member, was fired last Thursday via a letter. He had worked at the STO Pharmacy in Fonadhoo island of Laamu atoll for the past 10 years.

The letter accused him of acting in a way that shamed the company, and that his dismissal was effective from June 1. He was provided two-months’ salary.

A resident from Fonadhoo island told RaajjeMV that Ibrahim has always been vocal against some of the policies of the constituency's parliament representative, and that ‘he openly takes part in MDP events’. Noting that Ibrahim had voted in the MDP primary despite authorities’ attempts to halt it, the resident said that photos of him voting had been circulating around social media at the time of his dismissal.

Three people were arrested from Gan of Laamu atoll, for allegedly obstructing the police’s attempts to enforce the court order to stop the primary election.

The order was issued by the Civil Court, following the request of the attorney general. The Elections Commission, which had threatened MDP with dissolution if the party allowed former President Mohamed Nasheed to run in the primary, had asked the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and home ministry to intervene as well.

Despite their attempts, MDP said that 44011 members had come out to vote on Wednesday.