The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has launched a targeted campaign demanding the immediate release of individuals arrested during the “Lootuvaifi” protest held in Malé City on the night of October 3. The party has asserted that those detained are political prisoners, held in violation of their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.

The campaign was formally launched on Wednesday night at the MDP’s Dhandikoshi campaign site. A prominent feature of the initiative is a large poster displayed outside the party office, bearing the photos of six protest participants currently held at Dhoonidhoo jail. MDP members have been gathering at the site, holding demonstrations to denounce what they describe as politically motivated detentions.

The individuals in custody include former Members of Parliament Yaugoob Abdulla and Yasir Abdul Latheef, as well as K. Maafushi Council President Hassan Solah, Ali Jumaan, Azeem Ali, and Hassan Shakir. The Criminal Court has extended their detention by 15 days, further fueling accusations that the arrests are being used as a tool of political repression.

The campaign signals MDP’s intention to escalate its demands for the detainees' release beyond the capital. The party has announced plans to expand its efforts to the home islands of those arrested, aiming to draw broader national attention to what it views as the politicization of the justice system under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration.

Despite repeated promises by the incumbent that there would be no political prisoners during his tenure, the continued detention of opposition figures contradicts those assurances. The circumstances surrounding the arrests, and the government’s handling of legal proceedings, have intensified concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and the use of state institutions to suppress dissent.

Adding to the controversy are reports of mistreatment. Solah reportedly sustained an injury to his finger while in custody, and videos circulating on social media show former MP Yasir being manhandled while handcuffed, raising serious questions about the conduct of law enforcement officers.

MDP’s campaign comes at a time of increasing political tension and public scrutiny, as civil rights advocates warn of a deteriorating environment for political freedoms in the Maldives.