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Thousands in Male protested President Muizzu’s government over corruption and rising prices. MDP led the rally; clashes led to arrests.
Opposition supporters wave Maldivian national flags during an anti-government protest in Male, Maldives. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO)
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Male on Friday night accusing President Mohamed Muizzu’s government of corruption and worsening living conditions, in what has become one of the largest demonstrations in the Maldives this year. Police used pepper spray and Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) to disperse the crowd, arresting several protesters as clashes erupted in the capital.
The protest, organised by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), drew former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid to the streets. Chanting “Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi!” (meaning “Stop the Loot”) demonstrators alleged widespread graft, rising prices, and attempts by the government to suppress independent media.
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The MDP said at least six protesters were detained and demanded their immediate release, calling the police response “violent and disproportionate.” Shahid, now the party’s president, condemned what he described as “indiscriminate arrests of peaceful demonstrators” and said the government’s actions were “a violation of constitutional rights.”
The Muizzu administration, however, rejected the charges of police brutality. Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusaan shared footage on X claiming protesters forcibly seized equipment from an on-duty police officer.
He said that this conduct could not be considered part of “peaceful political activity.” He added that the police had approved an alternate route for the protest, which the MDP ignored.
In its statement on Saturday, the Maldives government reaffirmed its commitment to the right to peaceful assembly but insisted that Friday’s rally violated the Freedom of Assembly Act. It said protesters had defied the designated route and forced their way into Majeedhee Magu, the busiest street in Male, “disrupting public order, breaking police barricades, and obstructing law enforcement duties.”
“The Maldives Police Service acted responsibly and with restraint in ensuring public safety, even in the face of provocation,” the government said, adding that it “respects and fully supports” the right to protest within the law.
The MDP, the country’s largest opposition party, maintains that the Muizzu government has undermined democratic freedoms and allowed corruption to deepen economic distress. The party said the “Lootuvaifi” protests would continue until the administration “restores accountability and transparency.”
(with inputs from agencies)
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
Male, Maldives
October 04, 2025, 15:08 IST
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