The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

Opposition MP Mahloof to be detained for 28 days: family

25 February 2018, MVT 22:41
Jailed Lawmaker Ahmed Mahloof PHOTO:Mohamed Sharuhan/Mihaaru
25 February 2018, MVT 22:41

Nazra Naseem, wife of arrested Galolhu South MP Ahmed Mahloof, on Sunday revealed that the police had told her husband that he would remain in custody for 28 days.

Mahloof was arrested again late Thursday after the police broke up the opposition gathering that commenced in front of main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s hub in capital Male, calling the government to comply with the February 1 ruling of the Supreme Court to free political prisoners.

One of the leaders of the gathering, Mahloof had spoken to his family just once after he was arrested; he was taken to Dhoonidhoo custodial center on Thursday.

Nazra noted that, when she spoke to her husband on Friday, he had claimed that the police had told him he would remain in custody for 28 days. She added that the family had not received any news of Mahloof after the phone call on Friday. Police was unavailable for any comment on this issue.

This could be interpreted as MP Mahlof remaining in custody till the 30 days of the extended State of Emergency expires. He was arrested two days after the parliament approved a 30-day extension to the original 15-day State of Emergency declared by the president on February 5.

This is the second time the police detained MP Mahloof since the emergency was declared. His first arrest was also at an opposition rally on February 16 but was released shortly after arrest.

Kinbidhoo MP Abdullah Riyaz had praised MP Mahloof’s resilience in a tweet he posted on Sunday. He claimed that Mahloof was one of the MP’s viewed as a threat by President Abdulla Yameen, and that jailing him cannot defeat or diminish his resolve.

Mahloof had previously served a combined jail term of 10 months and 24 days after he was convicted on two cases for obstruction of law enforcement authorities. However, immediately after he was released on June 8 last year, he had joined in leading the opposition’s movements.

MORE ON NEWS