Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday demanded a full investigation be carried out into the allegedly unlawful state of emergency (SOE) on February 5, 2018, under the former president and some other political leaders were arrested.
One year ago today a state of emergency was unlawfully declared in Maldives for the sole purpose of incarcerating me and others without legal grounds. We were subsequently freed by the High Court. 1/2
— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) February 5, 2019
Recently, Prosecutor General Aishath Bisham retracted the terrorism charges against Gayoom, his son Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon, his son-in-law Mohamed Nadeem and Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz.
In order to prevent such politically motivated and unlawful actions being taken against others in future, I demand that a full investigation be carried out into the matter and legal action taken against all those responsible for our horrendous ordeal. 2/2
— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) February 5, 2019
The landmark ruling of February 1, 2018, which had infamously ordered the release of nine high-profile political prisoners, also declared that no lawmakers had been ousted from the parliament, thus ordering the reinstatement of 12 MPs that had been declared unseated. Subsequently, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom declared a state of emergency on February 5.
Gayoom was sentenced for one year, seven months and six days for obstructing justice, following his refusal to hand over his mobile phone for police investigation. The sentence was later overthrown by the High Court.