Ambassador of the United States of America to the Maldives and Sri Lanka says that arrests and intimidation of elected legislators impeded on the normal function of Parliament.
In a tweet posted following the arrest of Dhiggaru Constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon, Ambassador Keshap had tagged the Parliamentarian.
In his tweet, Keshap noted that arrests and intimidation of elected legislators including Ahmed Faris Maumoon impedes the normal function of Parliament and democracy in Maldives’.
Arrests & intimidation of elected legislators including @afarismaumoon impedes the normal function of Parliament & #democracy in #Maldives
— Atul Keshap (@USAmbKeshap) July 18, 2017
Faris was arrested at the time when he and other Parliamentarians of the reformist movement had entered a no confidence vote on Parliament Speaker Abdullah Maseeh. He was arrested following a search of his residence.
Faris’ lawyer Maumoon Hameed said that Police had confiscated hard drives and other items belonging to the MP.