Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim’s constituents in his native Maamigilli island has again protested the business tycoon’s arrest. 

Almost the entirety of the island's fiercely loyal population – at roughly 3,000 residents – had taken to the streets in the protest, a member of the island’s council said.

The party’s secretary-general, Ahmed Sameer, said at the protest that Qasim Ibrahim remains steadfast and that his ‘choice to remain in prison’ shows the extent of his dedication to the opposition cause.

“Qasim Ibrahim did all he could despite knowing the threat and dangers against him. It cannot be easy for him to remain in prison, but he has done so out of dedication for the opposition’s reform efforts and love for the people” Sameer said. 

Sameer further said that Qasim Ibrahim’s sincerity is shown by the fact that he remains in the Maldives despite more than able to leave the country and settle elsewhere ‘like many well-off politicians do’. 

He added that President Abdulla Yameen would soon be ousted and that the Jumhooree Party would file a motion in this regard with the parliament – along with 47 signatures. 

Officers arrested and detained Qasim Ibrahim on the night of 6th April on allegations of bribery, attempting to influence the conduct of a public official, and trying to sway a voter.

The charges claim he had attempted to bribe parliamentarians in order to influence the vote of no-confidence against parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh in the opposition’s favour, and further trying to influence the conduct of other public officials and even law enforcement forces and further trying to sway public trust against the government, thus presenting a threat to public safety – the police’s arrest warrant claimed.

Qasim told the press that he is being investigated under section 610 of the penal code, which is classified under ‘rioting’ outlaws inciting, aiding, or engaging in any ‘violent attempts to overthrow the government’.

However, after shorly having been free after the High Court annulled his detension citing violations of the parliamentary priviledges act, he was arrested again from his home on 20th April, and promptly taken to a holding cell in Dhoonidhoo island.