This Parliament had violated the rights of public most: Hussain Areef

Nolhivaram Constituency MP Hussain Areef has lashed out at the current Parliament, labelling it as the Parliament that had encroached public rights since the start of Parliamentary system in the country.

In a tweet posted Wednesday night, Hussain Areef said that “even if it was bitter, truth remains the truth”, adding that “this Parliament had slaughtered public rights most since the formation of a Parliament”.

The tweet comes ahead of Monday’s no confidence motion on Parliament Speaker Abdullah.

He was recently removed from ruling coalition partner MDA for having criticized the Government. Areef was elected to the Parliament as a member of Jumhooree Party. He then shifted to ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives, moving to MDA later on.

Under Maseeh’s tenure, freedom of expression granted under clauses 27 and 28 of the Constitution had been revoked due to the draconian Anti-Defamation Bill, as well as the right to assembly granted under clause 32 of the Constitution. Maseeh has been accused of bending the rules to fit Government agenda, especially with regards to bill and laws which the Government had a stake in.