Social media activist Shammoon Jaleel (Lucas) has been released from police custody after being detained during protests calling for press freedom.
He was arrested 11 days ago during a demonstration at the intersection of Majeedhee Magu and Chaandhanee Magu. The court had remanded him in custody for 10 days, the longest detention period issued among those arrested that night.
In messages sent while in detention, Lucas called for continued resistance against injustice. He is a prominent social media personality known for his advocacy for fundamental rights and civil liberties.
A vocal critic of the government, Lucas maintains a significant online presence, with his social media posts garnering millions of views monthly.
This is not his first time in detention; Lucas previously spent 40 days in jail during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration. Following that period of incarceration, he lived in self-imposed exile in neighboring Sri Lanka, returning to the Maldives only after Yameen was voted out of office.
While Lucas has been released, Mohamed Shamin and Ali Mushaffau remain in police custody. Their current remand periods are set to expire in five days.
