Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has issued a strong statement condemning the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for deliberately defying the law during their protest happening in Malé, warning that such actions prove the opposition’s real agenda is not peace but disruption.
In his X post, Ihusaan reminded that under the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act (2013), any protest outside designated areas must be approved by the Maldives Police Service. He explained that while the MDP requested to march through Majeedhee Magu, police — citing heavy traffic and safety concerns — approved an alternative route and stood ready to cooperate with organizers.
Under the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act of 2013, any peaceful assembly planned outside designated areas requires approval from the Maldives Police Service for the chosen location. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) submitted a request for a specific route for their event.… pic.twitter.com/vD3Vi0hT8z
— Minister of Homeland Security & Technology (@min_mohst) October 3, 2025
“Despite this, the MDP disregarded both their requested route and the approved alternative” Ihusaan noted, adding that such defiance suggests the party never intended to hold a peaceful event.
Current Situation in Malé
The protest, which began near Artificial Beach, escalated when participants deviated from their permitted route along Ameenee Magu and attempted to push through barricades at Majeedhee Magu junction. According to police, demonstrators ignored repeated warnings, threw stones and water bottles, and even attempted to seize police equipment. Officers were forced to reinforce barricades to contain the unrest, as the opposition attempted to provoke chaos in the heart of the capital.
The Minister emphasized that the government is committed to protecting freedom of expression within the legal framework, but made clear that attacks on police officers, route violations, and deliberate obstruction of law enforcement will not be tolerated.
By standing firm, Ihusaan positioned himself once again as the guardian of law and order, while exposing the MDP’s protest as an act designed to undermine democratic stability rather than strengthen it.
