Malé, Maldives - Thousands of supporters of former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed marched in the honeymoon islands' tiny capital Male Friday to protest his detention on terror charges, which sparked international condemnation.
Although the rally was not scheduled to start until the evening, crowds began streaming onto Male from early Friday, fuelled by news that Nasheed had been given just three days to prepare his defence during his latest court appearance.
His lawyers also said Nasheed had been denied access to his defence team as he was brought before the court Thursday on charges which date back to his sacking of one of the islands' top judges to the time he was president.
"Stop brutality," said a placard carried by a Nasheed supporter wearing yellow, the colour of his Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Others carried red and green Maldivian flags as they marched to a meeting venue while police in full riot gear deployed in the area.
Supporters of the Jumhooree Party, former ally of President Abdulla Yameen, also joined the opposition rally to express solidarity with their one-time rival Nasheed.
"We are with you sir," said a placard which had a photo of the 47-year-old Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader.
He was arrested on Sunday and charged with terrorism over the detention of criminal court judge Abdullah Mohamed in 2012, when he was still president.
The United States and regional power India have voiced concern over the charges, which carry a jail sentence of more than 10 years, and the manner in which Nasheed was dragged roughly into court on Monday and denied both legal access and medical treatment.
The dramatic arrest came amid growing opposition to the government of President Yameen, whose spokesman on Tuesday denied that the move to prosecute Nasheed was politically motivated.
AFP
