Amnesty International slams Maldives for attacks on peaceful protestors
Amnesty International is putting pressure on the Maldives government to release those who have been detained under the ongoing state of emergency for exercising their human rights.
It also said the government must halt attacks on peaceful protestors.
The international pressure group said it had documented several arbitrary detentions under state of emergency laws, mainly of peaceful protesters and journalists. Members of the judiciary and political opponents have also been held arbitrarily since the state of emergency was imposed on February 5.
Amnesty is calling for their immediate release unless promptly charged with a recognisable criminal offence.
Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty’s South Asia deputy director, said: "Those who were peacefully protesting against the state of emergency should never have been detained in the first place and must be released immediately and unconditionally.
"The Maldivian government is using the state of emergency as a licence for repression, targeting members of civil society, judges and political opponents."
The state of emergency was extended on February 20 for a further 30 days, a move that was deemed ‘unconstitutional’ by the Maldives prosecutor-general. The vote to extend the state of emergency was later forced through parliament.
Hundreds have been gathering every night on the streets of the capital Male calling for the release of those detained and for the lifting of the state of emergency.
Amnesty said it had also documented the use of unnecessary and excessive force by the police against journalists and peaceful protesters.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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