Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has condemned the arrest of the Party’s Thulusdhoo chapter President and national team player Assad Ali (Adubarey).
Adubarey was arrested after he allegedly attempted to take a picture of Criminal Court Judge Abdul Baaree Yoosuf.
A statement released by the Party said that taking a photograph of a Judge does not amount as a criminal offense and arresting an individual on such a claim was extremely concerning. Additionally, the statement said that using that as a pretext for arrest was clear intimidation.
The statement noted that no attempt had been made to investigate the multitude of cases involving threats against political party members, senior political party figures, members of civil service organizations and journalists, adding that this was extremely worrying. The statement added that it was more worrying that an incident of this nature took precedence over such pressing concerns, noting that this was done deliberately.
“Issuing court orders and arresting in the middle of the night over taking photographs is not a criminal offence, while serious crimes left unchecked by using the loopholes in the judicial justice system. This clearly shows that there is no justice and the public is threatened on a continuous basis,” the statement said.
MDP had called for the immediate release of Adubarey.
MDP condemns Adubarey’s arrest
