Live Blog: Lootuvaifi rally

Oct 3, 2025, 4:26 PM
Rally participants. -- Photo: Mirash Nashim/ Adhadhu

Rally participants. -- Photo: Mirash Nashim/ Adhadhu

23:07 | 03-10-25

Police are using a sonic weapon to disperse protestors. But the MDP has called on rally participants to remain on Majeedhee Magu.

23:04 | 03-10-25

MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, MDP President Abdulla Shahid and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih are at the front of the protest.

23:00 | 03-10-25

Hundreds of people remain at the protest area, including members of the MDP leadership.

22:48 | 03-10-25

Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal was arrested a while ago.

22:45 | 03-10-25

Former Dhaandhoo MP Yauqoob has been taken into police custody.

22:43 | 03-10-25

22:33 | 03-10-25

22:33 | 03-10-25

Police have issued a statement warning legal action against the rally participants. They have accused the protestors of obstructing police duty.

22:16 | 03-10-25

Six rally participants have been taken into police custody so far.

22:10 | 03-10-25

Rally participants are currently on Majeedhee Magu. They are refusing to leave despite the police's use of excessive force to disperse them.

21:59 | 03-10-25

Police have issued a final warning to rally participants. They have made one arrest and seized a vehicle used for the rally.

21:53 | 03-10-25

21:50 | 03-10-25

Police have used pepper spray indiscriminately and without any warning. Some rally participants have collapsed and are currently receiving emergency medical care.

21:36 | 03-10-25

21:35 | 03-10-25

Participants have gone over the barricades and reached police officers with shields. MDP planned to march through Majeedhee Magu after the rally at Artificial Beach. Police have used pepper spray without any warning.

21:29 | 03-10-25

Police have barricaded Majeedhee Magu and are preventing rally participants from going forward.

21:27 | 03-10-25

Rally participants head towards Male' main street, Majeedhee Magu.

21:26 | 03-10-25

MP Mauroof called on participants to march on the streets.

21:23 | 03-10-25

MP Mauroof Zakir announced five demands.

1. Repeal constitutional amendments chaining MPs to the ruling party.

2. Stop looting State Owned Enterprises

3. Pay pending bills to private companies within five weeks

4. Bring back the decentralization system

5. Repeal media control law and ensure medicine through Aasandha

21:14 | 03-10-25

MDP President Abdulla Shahid addressed the crowd and said the opposition party will not remain inactive when the regime loots the state.

21:10 | 03-10-25

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s Lootuvaifi Lootuvaifi (Stop the Looting) rally has begun at the Artificial Beach in Male'.

Adhadhu journalists estimate a crowd of more than 2,500 people when the rally, driven by economic hardships and erosion of rights, began at 9:00 pm.

Participants were waving the national flag along with the MDP flag and were expressing their sentiments against President Mohamed Muizzu's regime.

Throngs of people travelled from the atolls to join the rally while the government officials conducted a fear-mongering social media campaign to discourage participants.

MDP leadership members are the rally, including Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, President Abdulla Shahid and former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Police have been on high alert, with hundreds of officers active across the city and traffic routes controlled. Drones have been circling above the Male' area and all prison officers are currently on duty.

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