Friends of Maldives

                                         "It was definitely a coup. Given the information that has come out, I don’t see how
                                         anyone can credibly argue otherwise.”

- Dr Ahmed Shaheed, former Foreign Minister of the Maldives; UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran

On February 7th 2012,  the first democratically-elected government of the Maldives was toppled in what is now widely accepted as a pre-meditated coup d'etat involving forces loyal to an alliance of the former dictatorship and extremist Islamist groups.

Peaceful protesters were violently attacked without warning or provocation by members of the police, and there is convincing evidence of the attempted murder of at least one protester. One person is believed to be dead as a result of injuries sustained in the attack.

The new incumbent, former Vice President Dr Waheed (who is believed to have been involved in the plot) has moved quickly to install members of the former regime and persons who were actively involved in the coup in key positions in the cabinet, police and armed forces. Some of these appointments are believed to be illegal.

Almost all media in the Maldives is now controlled by the current regime.

Despite his pledge to uphold the rule of law and despite overwhelming evidence (including video footage) of police brutality (including several people whose eyes were forced open and then sprayed for several seconds with pepper spray at close range), no action has been taken to date.

The overwhelming desire of the public is for an early restoration of democracy and the complete rejection of police brutality and torture. Early elections are widely regarded as the only way to ensure the fulfilment of these wishes.

The international community must stand behind the Maldivian people in this time of crisis and help restore the country's democracy and the public voice. The overthrow of a democratically elected government by acts of treason and the use of government brutality and torture should be resisted by all who believe in democracy and freedom from repression.

Timeline of the Coup d'etat in the Maldives: Timeline.pdf