The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) strongly condemns and expresses deep concern over the Government’s blatant use of the Police and Judicial system to eliminate the opposition.

Within days of President Yameen declaring that he would levy criminal charges against the leader of the Adhaalath Party, Sheikh Imran, the Prosecutor General announced that former Government- coalition partners, Sheikh Imran, along with the Deputy Leader of the Jumhooree Party, Ameen Ibrahim and JP Council Member Sobah Rasheed were to be charged for terrorism.

The MDP is deeply concerned about the Government use of terrorism charges against opposition leaders. With the sentencing of President Mohamed Nasheed for 13 years on terrorism charges, and the subsequent levying of criminal charges against the leaders of all other opposition parties, the Government’s authoritarian attempts to silence the opposition is becoming increasingly blatant.

The Government’s use of terrorism charges against opposition leaders at a time when the opposition have expressed their ongoing willingness to engage in talks to end the political crisis is worrying. The MDP calls upon the Government to stop interfering with the Judiciary and to respect peaceful political activity.

MDP Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said: “The Maldives’ slide to dictatorship is now complete. There isn’t an opposition leader in the country who isn’t either in jail or facing charges.”