Ali “Smith” Hashim, who was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly attacking Ahmed Siddeeq, a former Deputy Minister at the Minister of Home Affairs, has been released.

While the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist was released on Thursday evening, he had been remanded by seven days when brought for his remand hearing to the Criminal Court.

According to the alleged victim, Siddeeq’s twitter account, an individual dressed in a ‘Jazeera Raajje’ t-shirt -President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s campaign slogan- had attacked him in front of the Criminal Court, and that he had threatened to do so again. Siddeeq added that this was done in the presence of police officers.

It is notable that many, particularly MDP members, had taken to the streets to protest on Thursday, calling for Hashim’s immediate release, with some calling on social media for Hashim’s release.

Some of the freshly elected government officials also called for the MDP activist’s release. In particular, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s new Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Ahmed Mahloof, former President and MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed as well as MP Eva Abdulla.