Maldives Supreme Court Does U-turn After Arrests

The Maldives Supreme Court has performed a U-turn on its decision to free nine convicted politicians, hours after the arrest of two of its judges. The court’s remaining three judges have issued a statement saying the order has been revoked “in light of the concerns raised by the president”. President Abdulla Yameen has declared a state of emergency to investigate a “coup” against him.

The opposition has called for other countries to intervene in the crisis. President Yameen ordered the arrest of Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, on Monday. On Tuesday, the president gave a televised address saying: “I had to declare a national emergency because there was no other way to investigate these judges.”

The remaining judges then issued a statement saying they were rescinding the original order. Last week’s original, unanimous court ruling quashed the convictions of nine opposition figures and ordered the release of those behind bars. It said they should all be re-tried. Among them was exiled ex-President Mohamed Nasheed. The court said his 2015 trial had been unconstitutional.

The ruling also declared that 12 MPs stripped of their seats should be reinstated, which would see the opposition’s parliamentary majority restored. The move took the nation by surprise and the government responded by suspending parliament.

Under emergency rule, security forces are now freer to make arrests, and public gatherings are banned.