The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has condemned the violent dispersal of peaceful protesters on Friday night.
In a statement, the main opposition party particularly expressed alarm over the use of a sonic weapon of Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs).
"The use of LRADs is unprecedented in the Maldives and poses serious risks of permanent hearing damage, dizziness, nausea, and other severe health impacts," the party stated.
The MDP said these events highlight the rapid erosion of democracy in the Maldives and urged the international community to "act swiftly and pressure the Muizzu administration to end this brutality and uphold the democratic rights and freedoms of the Maldivian people."
The opposition party further called on the government to immediately release the detainees and demanded accountability for the use of excessive force.
"Under President Muizzu, the government has increasingly resorted to authoritarian tactics—undermining judicial independence, silencing the media, and now deploying dangerous weapons against citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly," the statement read.
