Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen, has declared a thirty day state of emergency ahead of a planned anti-government rally.The declaration comes two days before the planned protest by the country’s main opposition, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The move came at a time of heightened tensions in Maldives after a crackdown on dissent and two alleged attempts on the president’s life in recent weeks.

Yameen was unhurt but his wife and two aides injured in an explosion on-board their speedboat as it approached Male on their return from the Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on 28th of September.

The declaration gives security forces sweeping powers to arrest suspects. The MDP believes that the President has imposed the State of Emergency primarily in order to impeach Vice President Adeeb, who has been detained.

The Maldives Broadcasting Commission has issued a notice to all media outlets in the country telling them to refrain from broadcasting anything that “risks national security”. Media outlets have been instructed to circulate information about the current situation only after confirmation from official sources.

Meanwhile the United States ,Amnesty International and the main opposition (MDP) has sharply criticized the state of emergency declared by the government of the Maldives, expressing concern it might lead to a new crackdown on dissent.

With the imposition of the State of Emergency the following rights accorded by the Constitution are suspended or restricted:

• Article 19 “A citizen is free to engage in any conduct or activity that is not expressly prohibited by Islamic Shari’ah or by law. No control or restraint may be exercised against any person unless it is expressly authorised by law.”
• Article 24 “Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his private communications. Every person must respect these rights with respect to others.”
• Article 31 “Every person employed in the Maldives and all other workers have the freedom to stop work and to strike in order to protest.”
• Article 32 “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly without prior permission of the state.”
• Article 41 (a) Every citizen has the freedom to enter, remain in and leave the Maldives, and to travel within the Maldives.”
• Article 45 (except section on arrest) Article 45: “Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained, arrested or imprisoned except as provided by law enacted by the People’s Majlis in accordance with Article 16 of this Constitution.”
• Article 47 (a) and (b): “No person shall be subject to search or seizure unless there is reasonable cause,” and, “Residential property shall be inviolable, and shall not be entered without the consent of the resident, except to prevent immediate and serious harm to life or property, or under the express authorisation of an order of the Court.

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