Maldives declares state of emergency, arrests 2 Supreme court judges and former president

pulse

February 6, 2018 2:12 AM

The state of emergency was issued on Tuesday morning and will last 15 days.

A 15-day state of emergency has been declared in the Maldives.
Authorities in the Indian Ocean nation arrested two Supreme Court judges and a former president early Tuesday morning.
The Supreme Court ruled last week that a number of political prisoners should be released, but President

The Maldives has entered a state of emergency.

President

According to Reuters, the situation in the Indian Ocean nation began when the Supreme Court dismissed terrorism charges against nine opposition leaders, six of whom are being held in jail. Yameen refused to comply and fired the country's police commissioner who said he would follow the court order.

The state of emergency declaration, which was "security forces the ability to circumvent the judiciary and make arrests, while lifting restrictions on unlawful arrests and prompt prosecutions.

Freedom of assembly is prohibited, as well as any effort to remove the president from office.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that, despite the declaration, there will be no curfew and that services and business "will not be affected."

The department said there are also no restrictions on traveling to or from the popular holiday destination, and all transportation remains operational.

The Committee to Protect Journalists

Yameen has been president since 2013.

pulse