Blog: Maldives security forces assault women protesters
| Publisher | Amnesty International |
| Publication Date | 29 February 2012 |
| Cite as | Amnesty International, Blog: Maldives security forces assault women protesters, 29 February 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f50adde2.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
By Amnesty International staff
A group of peaceful women protesters who wanted to mark their opposition to the Maldives' new president found themselves on the receiving end of a violent assault.
Charged with batons and doused with pepper spray by the Maldivian army (MNDF), they fell foul of the authorities as they attempted to approach a rally in Addu City addressed by President Waheed on 26 February.
The 20 women were ahead of a crowd of about 70 when the police stopped them, saying they had been ordered not to allow Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters in. The women wore the yellow headbands usually donned by MDP members.
The demonstrators halted their march and began to chant slogans against President Waheed, who was making his speech a couple of hundred metres away.
They were then attacked by an army contingent which has been deployed alongside police in recent weeks.
Continue reading Maldives security forces assault women protesters on Livewire, Amnesty International's blog.
