The regime of President Mohamed Muizzu has defended its use of police brutality to prevent a peaceful rally organized by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
In a statement in English aimed at disinforming the international community, the Foreign Ministry said the police prevented protestors from moving forward because they refused to take the pre-approved route.
"The Government reiterates that the Maldives Police Service acted responsibly and with restraint in ensuring public safety, even in the face of obstruction and provocation from the protesters," it stated.
However, the Maldives constitution specifically guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly without prior state permission.
The Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act was passed during the repressive regime of former President Abdulla Yameen to limit this right in violation of the constitution.
It states that street protests, parades, and similar gatherings require written permission from the police or can only be held in areas designated by the Home Ministry.
Muizzu came to power with the promise of repealing the unconstitutional restriction on freedom of assembly. This is a key pledge in his manifesto for the 2023 presidential election campaign.
"I believe that assembly is a fundamental right. People should be able to protest and express their opinions. It is a fundamental right. So within the limits set by the constitution and the limits set by the Islamic Shariah, we will bring necessary changes to laws to guarantee the right to freedom of assembly in our government," he said on 15 August 2023.
While his regime continues down the path of disinforming the international community, the police also used disproportionate and unlawful force against protestors on Friday night.
They used a sonic weapon in a dense residential area without any warning and without a standard operating procedure (SOP) in place as required by law. They also used pepper spray at close range, resulting in a heart attack for one protester.
Eight protestors were detained, and all of them were denied their right to a defence attorney.
