North-Mahchangoalhi MP Mariya Ahmed Didi has said that opposition leaders are having to remain behind bars because President Abdulla Yameen is threatened by them and not because they have committed a crime.

MP Mariya, who is also the opposition coalition’s Presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s spokesperson said this at a press conference held by the opposition coalition on Wednesday,

MP Mariya said that they will join the government for dialogue with the purpose of solving the current political situation in the country, on the condition that the jailed party leaders should be involved. The spokesperson added that the parties will have nothing to discuss if their leaders are behind bars.

Mariya said this after incumbent President Abdulla Yameen's recent statement that the opposition failed to show up at the table despite the government having invited the opposition coalition for negotiations 12 times. President Yameen had said that the opposition has been rejecting the negotiations with excuses and demanding to release convicts who have been imprisoned for numerous offences. The president added that this was a wish he would not fulfil.

Responding to the President’s comments, Mariya asserted that party leaders are behind bars because the President is intimidated by them, and sees them as a threat, going on to say that the people do not believe that they are criminals at all.

The spokesperson had at Tuesday’s press conference called on the government to hold negotiations with Maldivian Democratic Party, Jumhooree Party, Adhaalath Party, as well as jailed former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who makes up the joint opposition coalition.

She said that the opposition coalition’s presidential candidate wishes to proceed with negotiations in the presence of self-exiled former President and Maldivian Democratic Party leader, Mohamed Nasheed, Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim who is in exile after fleeing his prison conviction, as well as jailed Adhaalath Party leader  Imran Abdulla.