Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla on Saturday evening, defended Maldives Police Service in the controversial arrest of a bikini-clad female tourist in Maafushi, Kaafu Atoll.
Speaking at Public Service Media (PSM)'s 'Raajje Miadhu' programme, Minister Imran defended Police's actions, stating that although the Police received criticisms about the way they handled the arrest, from a security perspective, their actions were not out of line.
Deemed "badly handled" by the Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed, the video of the arrest depicts three male officers attempting to cover and handcuff a tourist with disproportionate force on the roads of Maafushi.
A second video was later publicized, revealing moments prior to her violent arrest. The video shows the woman refusing to obey police instructions to cover herself, stating that "anyone gets to my personal space, they gonna have a problem”. She also snatched an officer's sunglasses during the confrontation.
As a constitutional Islamic republic, strict dress codes are imposed, especially on inhabited islands. Tourists are prohibited from donning revealing clothing in public, other than in specified locations such as a designated 'bikini beach' in the island.
The video of the incident, widely shared on social media platforms, prompted heavy criticism of the local police. Many stated that while Maldivian culture should be respected, such situations must be handled by female officers and that women must never be inappropriately manhandled even when an arrest is warranted.
Authorities intercepted the woman at roughly 1748hrs on Thursday evening after receiving multiple complaints of an inebriated tourist violating public dress code.
They added that she was taken into custody because of her suspected intoxication. She was later released around 1910hrs on the same day.
While consumption, possession and sale of alcohol are illegal, licenses to sell liquor are granted to resorts, liveaboards and airport hotels. Major local tourist destinations such as Thulusdhoo and Maafushi in Kaafu Atoll have a liveaboard anchored outside the harbour as a "floating bar".
Police noted that despite large numbers of incoming travellers to Maafushi, no female officers are currently stationed on the island. A team of the Police Professional Standards Command was dispatched to Maafushi to investigate the matter.
Sign In