Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist Mohamed Shamin was released on Tuesday following nearly two weeks in police detention tied to a political demonstration held late last month.
Shamin was arrested on September 8 on allegations of breaching police barricades and obstructing law enforcement officers during an MDP rally on August 28. Following his arrest, the Criminal Court initially ordered a 10-day remand, which was later extended by an additional three days.
Upon his release, Shamin reaffirmed his commitment to the opposition movement, describing freedom of assembly as a fundamental constitutional right and criticizing the government’s handling of public demonstrations.
Legal Team Alleges Unlawful Detention
The release has drawn criticism from the MDP’s legal leadership. Party Lawyer and Legal Director Ahmed Mauroof stated that although the Criminal Court decided to release Shamin at 11:30 PM on Tuesday, authorities held him until 5:00 PM the following day.
Mauroof argued that the delayed release constitutes unlawful detention, maintaining that law enforcement should have freed Shamin immediately once the court declined to extend his remand. The legal team plans to file a lawsuit in the Civil Court seeking a formal declaration that the continued detention was illegal.
Shamin’s arrest follows previous police interactions, including an arrest in December 2024 during a taxi driver protest, after which he was released under conditional terms. Another MDP activist, Ahmed Maimoon Mohamed, was also arrested in connection with the August 28 rally and was released after completing a five-day remand.
