The Criminal Court has remanded two individuals for 15 days following their re-arrest under a court warrant, after they were initially detained and released during Thursday night's protests calling for the freedom of jailed journalists and political prisoners.
Mohamed Shamin and Ali Mushaffau were first taken into police custody on Thursday night. Although they were released shortly after, they were apprehended again later that night under a court order.
Lawyer Ahmed Mauroof said that the two men were not granted an adequate opportunity to defend themselves when they were brought before the Criminal Court for their remand hearing. The 15-day detention period was granted at the request of the police.
The suspects are accused of assaulting a police officer. However, their lawyer argued that the state failed to provide a clear justification for their continued detention or demonstrate how they pose a threat to public safety.
The authorities have been deploying an unusually high number of police officers to recent protests, a move seen as an attempt to intimidate peaceful demonstrators through the use of disproportionate force.
