After defying the Supreme Court's order to release jailed opposition leaders, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days.
After defying the Supreme Court's order to release jailed opposition leaders, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Monday declared a state of emergency for 15 days. Hours later, security forces broke into the Supreme Court on Monday to arrest two judges including the Chief Justice.
Legal Affairs Minister Azima Shakoor announced the emergency in a televised address. Under its terms, judges will no longer be granted special privileges if they are facing arrest.
"Certain rights will be restricted (but) general movements, services and businesses will not be affected," the president's office said in a statement about the emergency.
Here are 10 points about the emergency in Maldives:
1- Supreme Court Chief Justice Ali Hameed has been arrested. Under the terms of emergency, judges will no longer be granted special privileges if they are facing arrest.
2- Yameen's administration had defied Supreme Court order to free jailed opposition leaders, deepening a political crisis in the Indian Ocean island nation.
3- Supreme Court had on Thursday last ordered to release former president Mohamed Nasheed from a 13-year jail sentence, and free eight other political opponents from prison.
4- The court also ordered 12 members of parliament who had been stripped of their seats to be restored to the body.
5- Yameen's allies said the Supreme Court was trying to bring down the government.
6- The emergency has been declared for a period of 15 days.
7- Former Maldives president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was arrested shortly after Yameen declared a state of emergency.
8- India, which has been keeping a close watch on the situation, has advised its citizens to "defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice."
9- "Indian expatriates in Maldives are also alerted to the need for heightened security awareness, and urged to exercise due caution in public and avoid public gatherings," the Ministry of External Affairs said.
10- China has also warned its citizens not to travel to the Maldives for holidays.
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