Criminal Court Extends Detention of MDP Activist Ali Jumaa by 15 Days Over Social Media Calls to Smash Windows

The Criminal Court yesterday ordered the detention of opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activist Ali Jumaa (Dateu) for an additional 15 days in connection with a case where he called via social media to smash windows in certain buildings and vessels. Jumaa was arrested on the 22nd of last month. One day later, when he was presented before the court, his detention was extended by 12 days at that time. When he was presented before the court yesterday upon the expiry of that period, the court ordered an additional 15 days of detention against Jumaa. This period will expire on the 19th of this month. According to the court order, the allegation being made against him is terrorism. The court order states that among the evidence submitted against him in this case are an intelligence report from the police and statements from the police. It is also noted in the order that he was arrested in connection with a post made from an account suspected to be used by him on X, and a report related to that post has also been submitted. Notably, Jumaa had previously been arrested during the large protest held by the MDP under the name "Looted, Looted" in October last year. The post made on his 'X' account some time ago has already been deleted. Before his arrest, another person was also arrested in a similar case. In that instance, former Deputy Minister Hassan Zihyan of the current government was arrested and detained for 15 days on suspicion of calling to smash windows in the President's Office, the People's Majlis office, and the Supreme Court building.