The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has refused to confirm whether it was investigating the use of force by the police during the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest on Saturday night.
The commission's senior media officer, Ali Zajil Shaheed, refused to respond to questions about the use of force by the police when questioned by Adhadhu.
He told the HRCM media group that the commission was monitoring the events that took place during MDP's protest in Male'.
Police blocked the protestors from leaving the opposition party's campaign hall area on Saturday night.
But protestors defied police orders and began marching through the streets of Male'. Police officers reacted by using pepper spray directly towards the faces of protestors.
Videos circulating on social media also show police using excessive force against some protesters. Police have not yet commented.
The MDP has been holding a series of nightly protests since Friday. The party announced a protest for Sunday night as well.
