The Maldives regime's Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan has faced heavy criticism after branding the rally participants as being violent.
More than 2,500 peaceful demonstrators gathered in Male's Artificial Beach tonight for the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally.
They decided to march through the capital city's main road, but police obstructed them with barricades and pepper spray.
In a post on social media X, Ihusaan shared a video and said protestors were seizing police shields and barricades.
But social media users were quick to point out that the protestors were engaged in a peaceful political demonstration when police obstructed them without a reason.
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.
