Two women who were arrested for protesting outside embassies in Male' against the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza have been remanded in custody for three days.
Adhadhu understands that the protestors are Dr. Shazra Ibrahim, 36 and religious scholar Dr. Mohamed Iyaz's wife Aishath Shadiya, 47.
Police said the two women were arrested with a court order for repeatedly protesting near diplomatic missions in violation of the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act, acting in a manner that disturbs an ambassador and obstructing police duty.
"Aishath Shadiya and Dr. Shazra, who were arrested yesterday, were produced before the Criminal Court and the court ordered to remand them in custody for three days," police said.
Police did not name the ambassador they had allegedly harassed or the diplomatic missions that had been disturbed because of their protest.
Meanwhile, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Adhaalath Party (AP) have condemned the police and called for their release.
"We express our concern over the arrest of Aishath Shadiya and Dr. Shazra Ibrahim who have continuously raised their voices against the inhuman and cruel crimes committed against the Palestinian people," the MDP said.
AP said it is a human right to speak out against the crimes committed by Israel and its allies while it is the religious duty of every Muslim to do whatever they can to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
"There is room to state that the government is moving away from the sentiments of the Maldivian people on this issue...," the AP said.
However, government officials including Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem has defended the police for arresting the two protestors.
The two women were staging daily protests outside the UK embassy, German embassy, UN office and the residences of the British and Saudi ambassadors.
