Police have obstructed peaceful protest by removing anti-government banners in Haa Alif Dhidhdhoo island ahead of a visit by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members hanged anti-government banners despite warnings by the police and the island council on Monday.
But the banners were removed early on Tuesday. MDP activists in Dhidhdhoo went to the island police station today to get the banners back.
Dhidhdhoo MDP Executive Committee Member Mahmood Shafeeq (Mandey) told Adhadhu that the party's president and vice president for Dhidhdhoo constituency went to the police station to collect the banners.
"The police said the banners had offensive language. We asked what offensive language we had used. They said kazzab. Then bahulool. Police said it was also against common social standards," Mandey said.
Kazzab means liar and Bahulool means deceiver or cheater.
Dhidhdhoo council earlier appealed to the islanders to avoid expressing negative sentiments towards the President during his visit.
Police also entered the MDP campaign hall and warned the party activists as they were preparing the anti-government banners.
Muizzu begin his tour of Haa Alif atoll this morning. He will conclude the tour on Thursday after visiting 10 islands.
