Maldives declares ‘state of emergency’ over political detainees

Ex-president calls for US intervention as political crisis threatens Indian Ocean island chain

Maldives police break up celebrations after the Supreme Court orders release of political prisoners
Maldives police break up celebrations after Supreme Court orders release of political prisoners
(Image credit: Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images)

The Maldives’ President Abdulla Yameen yesterday declared a 15-day state of emergency in the Indian Ocean nation amid an escalating political crisis over his regime’s detention of political opponents and top judges.

Troops in riot gear surrounded the Maldives Supreme Court, in capital Male, at dawn today and arrested two judges including Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, reports South African broadcaster SABC News. Hours earlier police had arrested former president and opposition leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom - Yameen’s estranged half-brother - at his home in the city, says Time magazine.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

According to the Financial Times, the Supreme Court’s ruling “paved the way for the exiled opposition leader’s return to the Maldives to contest upcoming elections in which Yameen had expected to run virtually unchallenged”.

Nasheed today called for the US and India to intervene and release the prisoners, and to impose sanctions to curb Yameen’s financial transactions, the BBC reports.

Yameen has called the Supreme Court decision a “plot” and a “coup”.

China has advised tourists to avoid the Indian Ocean archipelago, a popular tourist destination, until tensions subside. The UK Foreign Office issued travel advice that cautions British tourists to avoid protests or rallies in Male, but that says there are no reports that outlying islands, resorts or Male International Airport are affected.

Explore More