James Dauris, the British Ambassador to the Maldives, has on Friday described opposition Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim’s arrest as a sad day for democracy.

In the tweet on Friday, Dauris referred to one he sent out earlier saying that many Maldivians had conveyed concern over the threats of prosecution against the opposition.

The ambassador earlier this week met with Minister Mohamed Shainee, where they had discussed the status of democracy in the Maldives. Dauris had noted that the meeting was 'frank' and constructive. 

The Transparency Maldives has expressed its concern over the government’s actions, stating that it is actively working to ‘curtail the fundamental rights’ of parties in opposition of the government.