MALE: Thousands of supporters of former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed marched in the honeymoon islands’ tiny capital on Friday, protesting his detention on terror charges which have sparked international condemnation.

Crowds streamed onto Male from early Friday for the two and a half hour rally, angered by news that Nasheed had been given just three days to prepare his defence for his latest court appearance.

Nasheed’s lawyers also said he had been denied access to his defence team as he was brought before the court on Thursday on charges dating back to his sacking of one of the islands’ top judges while he was president.

“Stop brutality,” said a placard carried by a Nasheed supporter wearing yellow, the colour of his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Others carried red and green Maldivian flags as they marched to the meeting venue, while police in full riot gear deployed in the area.

Supporters of the Jumhooree Party, a former ally of President Abdulla Yameen, also joined the opposition rally that marched through narrow streets of the capital to express solidarity with their one-time rival Nasheed.—AFP

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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