Maldives' Supreme Court approves extension of emergency for 30 days

Abdulla Yameen

Maldives' Supreme Court has issued a temporary order, approving the parliament's decision to extend the state of emergency for another 30 days on the request of President Abdulla Yameen.

On Tuesday, the Maldives' Parliament had extended the state of emergency by another 30 days, bolstering President Yameen's grip on power in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation.

President Yameen had first declared emergency on February 5 after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. Among them was exiled ex-President Mohamed Nasheed. The court said his 2015 trial had been unconstitutional.

The state of emergency will now end on March 22.

The parliament sought apex court's advise on the state of emergency after some MPs said that a vote on the decree for state of emergency can be taken with 43 MPs.

The apex court yesterday issued a temporary ruling, ordering the Parliament and the relevant State authorities to act upon the Parliament's approval and extension of the Presidential Decree, said a statement issued by the President's Office in Male today.

India yesterday reacted strongly over the extension of emergency in Maldives saying the manner in which the 30-day extension was approved by the Majlis in contravention of the Maldivian Constitution is a "matter of concern".

There has been international condemnation of the Maldivian government's moves, including the imposition of the emergency.

The US also expressed disappointment over the development in Maldives and asked President Yameen to uphold the rule of law in the troubled Indian Ocean island nation.