The Maldives government has claimed that it is working to fully restore the right to freedom of assembly in the Maldives.
This was mentioned in the Country Report submitted by the government ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
The government said the right to freedom of assembly was restricted under a law that came into force in 2016. But the government said it was working to amend the law and restore the right to freedom of assembly.
Meanwhile, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted a bill to repeal the restrictive law. Another bill seeks to amend the law to allow people to gather without prior permission.
Police have recently dispersed three major rallies and various smaller gatherings in the capital. These include the May Day rally, the youth demonstration and the MDP rally on October 3.
The government has also decided to prosecute two youth leaders arrested during demonstrations earlier this year. The trial is scheduled to begin this month.
President Mohamed Muizzu pledged to restore the right to freedom of assembly to the extent guaranteed by the Constitution.
Expanding the right to assembly is included in Muizzu's manifesto. Article 19.11 of his manifesto, posted on the President’s Office website, states that he will expand freedom of assembly in a way that does not violate Islamic principles and by considering the standards of developed countries, where assembly is a fundamental right.
Article 32 of the Constitution states that "everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly without prior permission of the State."
