MDP rises against repression

In a shocking escalation, police have deployed the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a powerful crowd-control weapon, during the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protests, despite it not being an authorized tool for police use in the Maldives.

According to MDP Legal Director Ahmed Mauroof, the use of such a device constitutes a violent and unlawful act, another sign of the regime’s willingness to use extreme measures to silence dissent.

Making matters worse, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) is reportedly not monitoring the protests, allegedly under instructions from President Muizzu himself.

As the government turns to unauthorized weaponry and suppresses oversight, the protest movement enters dangerous new territory, but the people continue to resist.

In a bold and symbolic move, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has relinquished his MNDF security detail, choosing to stand with the people as the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” movement faces violent suppression.

As the state unleashes force on protesters, Solih’s decision sends a powerful message: he no longer trusts the state’s protection, and stands unshielded in defiance.

In a bold attempt to suppress the uprising, police have blocked all access routes to Artificial Beach, the heart of the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest.

But the resistance remains unshaken.

Despite roadblocks and escalating crackdown, protesters continue to hold their ground, refusing to be silenced. The people are standing firm, and the struggle for justice marches on through force, fear, and fire.

In a post on ‘X’, MP for West Maafannu constituency Mohamed Musthafa Ibrahim unleashed incendiary rhetoric aimed at MDP, declaring there can be no peace unless the opposition is removed, language that observers warn could further inflame an already explosive situation.

The statement marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric from a sitting MP and comes as Malé reels from violent crackdowns and mass arrests. Critics say such calls risk legitimizing reprisals and deepening divisions at a moment when calm and legal restraint are desperately needed.

As the streets boil over, this provocation raises the stakes: political leaders must choose whether to cool tensions or fan the flames.

In a stark move against political dissent, Yaugoob Abdulla, former MP for Dhaandhoo constituency, has been arrested during the ongoing “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest.

His detention underscores the government’s relentless push to silence prominent voices standing up for democracy and justice as the nation’s unrest reaches a boiling point.

In a sweeping crackdown on the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest, eight individuals have been arrested, escalating tensions.

Among those detained are former lawmakers as well as council presidents, signaling the government’s aggressive clampdown not just on ordinary citizens but on prominent political voices standing against authoritarian rule.

As arrests mount, the rally transforms from a protest into a bold stand against repression, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

In a powerful show of defiance, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is at the forefront of the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” mass rally, standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands demanding justice, accountability, and an end to authoritarian rule.

Solih’s presence sends a clear message: the battle to protect democracy is not just political, it’s personal. As protesters face pepper spray, arrests, and violent crackdowns, the former president’s leadership on the streets symbolizes the MDP’s resolve to resist state repression and reclaim the people’s voice.

The rally is no longer just a protest, it’s a movement, and Solih is leading it from the front.

As the government crackdown intensifies, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for the unconditional and immediate release of all protesters arrested during the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” movement.

While the full number of those detained remains unclear, at least six individuals, including elected officials, are confirmed to be in custody. MDP strongly condemns the arrests, declaring that citizens were simply exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

With tensions boiling over, MDP warns that suppressing voices through unlawful detention will only deepen the crisis. The streets have spoken and now the party is demanding justice.

The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has raised the alarm over disturbing reports of police targeting journalists and cameramen with pepper spray during the ongoing “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest in Malé.

According to MJA, multiple reporters covering the protest have come under direct, targeted assault, while police have denied journalists access behind police lines, obstructing them from safely carrying out their work.

As press freedom comes under attack on the frontlines, MJA is calling on the police institution to immediately stop obstructing the media and to ensure the safety of all journalists on the ground.

Following hours of brutal force, pepper spray, and violent arrests at the MDP’s “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest, the Maldives Police Service has shifted its stance, now attempting to justify its crackdown through a defensive public statement.

The statement claims protesters deviated from the approved route on Majeedhee Magu, allegedly throwing stones and bottles, attempting to seize equipment, and obstructing officers. But this comes after widespread footage and eyewitness accounts of unprovoked violence, including protesters being kicked, dragged, and journalists being pepper-sprayed.

Now, as public outrage swells and arrests continue, the police say they are preparing to take legal action against participants, a move critics are calling an attempt to rewrite the night’s events.

In a dramatic escalation of the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest, police have forcibly arrested Hassan Solah, President of the K. Maafushi Council.

Solah’s arrest marks a bold move by the state as it tightens its grip on elected representatives joining the mass resistance. Alongside him, at least six other protesters have also been detained as the crackdown intensifies.

Tonight, the streets of Malé are not just witnessing a protest, they’re witnessing the arrest of democracy itself.

Protesters push back against shielded officers in a tense standoff, trying to break through police lines during the heated “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest.

The crackdown has turned brutal.

Police have begun violently arresting participants of the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest, with eyewitnesses reporting scenes of protesters being kneed in the head before being dragged away.

What started as a peaceful march has descended into state-led violence, and the images coming out of Malé are nothing short of alarming.

The capital is witnessing the forceful silencing of dissent, in real time.

Renowned lawyer Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim has issued a stark warning from the heart of the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest, declaring that the Maldives Police Service is operating outside the bounds of the law in its crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

In an on-the-ground interview with RaajjeTV, Nishan condemned the use of excessive force, stating that the police lack the legal authority to declare such a situation or act with such unchecked violence. He emphasized that the MDP-led rally is a lawful, peaceful political assembly, and that forceful suppression is a clear violation of constitutional rights.

Nishan urged police to immediately cease the illegal use of force, warning that this level of state aggression has no legal basis and is a dangerous precedent for democracy.

The rally, which began at 8:30pm on Friday, has drawn a massive crowd of citizens. But by 9:45pm, the scene had escalated, with pepper spray deployed at least five times on protesters, leaving some struggling to breathe and requiring medical aid. Journalists were also targeted and pushed back as authorities attempted to silence coverage of the unfolding unrest.

The battle for justice is now not only in the streets, it’s a fight for the rule of law itself.

Despite the march being peaceful and constitutionally protected, protesters from the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” movement are still being blocked by lines of shielded police officers.

Demonstrators attempting to continue their march through Malé are being physically barred, as authorities hold the line and refuse to let them pass, intensifying the already heated atmosphere on the streets.

The people's voice remains loud, but the path forward is being forcefully denied.

Despite being clearly identified as press, RaajjeTV journalists were pepper-sprayed by police while covering the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest in Malé City. The crew remained on the ground, continuing to report as chaos unfolded around them.

In a brazen crackdown, police have aggressively obstructed journalists trying to cover the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest, deliberately spraying pepper spray to silence the cameras and microphones documenting the unrest.

As the government clamps down on the truth, reporters continue to face brutal intimidation.

A special hotline has been set up to provide legal assistance to anyone participating in the ongoing MDP rally.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) urges those in need of support to reach out via Viber, WhatsApp, or Telegram at 7341637.

Stay safe and know your rights, help is just a message away.

Scenes of chaos have exploded as police unleash violent force against protesters, striking civilians with shields and dousing them with pepper spray at close range.

What began as a peaceful rally has descended into brutal confrontation, with law enforcement’s heavy-handed tactics sparking outrage and fueling the fire of resistance.

The battle for the streets of Malé is now raw, relentless, and impossible to ignore.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has accused police of deliberately obstructing a peaceful assembly, warning that such interference violates the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

Calling on authorities to uphold the right to gather without repression, the MDP insists that the government must respect the people’s voice, or face the consequences of escalating unrest.

In a shocking turn, police have warned journalists covering the MDP’s “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest to leave the area immediately! Officers are using loudspeakers to issue their demands.

Despite earlier promises allowing press coverage, law enforcement is now using force indiscriminately, injuring journalists trying to document the unfolding chaos.

As the crackdown intensifies, the fight to hold power accountable is being met with violent attempts to silence the truth.

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Lawyer Nishan has slammed the police, declaring that they are operating under an illegal state as they crack down on the peaceful “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” protest.

Calling out the authorities for overstepping legal boundaries, Nishan emphasized that the MDP’s actions are legitimate political activities protected by law and urged officers not to follow unlawful orders.

In the face of rising tension, this bold legal challenge adds fuel to an already explosive situation.

The peaceful protest in Malé has taken a dark turn. Police have begun using force against protesters, repeatedly warning them to leave the area, even as many stand their ground in defiance.

Without warning, officers have deployed pepper spray at close range, targeting demonstrators in an escalating show of aggression. The atmosphere is tense, chaotic, and rapidly deteriorating as the state moves to crush the momentum of the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” movement.

This is no longer just a protest, it’s a showdown!

The situation in Malé has turned violent. Without warning, riot police have brutally dispersed protesters from the “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” movement, unleashing pepper spray at close range, not just on demonstrators, but also on journalists covering the scene.

What began as a peaceful march has now descended into chaos as authorities aggressively obstruct the protest, pushing back the crowd with force. Eyewitnesses report unprovoked escalation, with officers targeting individuals indiscriminately.

The capital is now on edge, the voices demanding justice are being met with repression, and the world is watching.