Police deny brutality claims, says ‘minimum force’ used to quell media protest

The police denied allegations of brutality on Thursday, insisting that officers acted strictly in line with operational protocols and applied only the minimum force necessary in dismantling a protest two days back, as journalists gathered outside the Parliament Building to protest against a contentious media bill.

The hours-long protest took place on Tuesday amid a Parliament vote on a media bill that seeks to replace the existing self-regulatory system with a government-controlled commission. Journalists began gathering outside the Parliament Building at around 08:30 am, and were later joined by members of the general public and members of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Clashes during the protest resulted in injuries to several protestors. At least two protestors were detained. But were released a couple of hours later.

The MDP filed a case the National Integrity Commission (NIC) on Wednesday, asking for an inquiry into allegations of police brutality during the protest.

The police issued a statement on Thursday denying the allegations.

In its statement, the agency said that the protest held on Tuesday constituted an unlawful assembly under the law.

“Police officers were therefore carrying out their lawful duty to prevent prohibited gatherings within the restricted security perimeter and to ensure the safety of members of Parliament and the public,” reads the statement.

The police said that some of the protestors had attempted to breach police barricades and obstruct security operations, and that officers issued repeated warnings, urging compliance with lawful instructions and preservation of order.

The police said that officers exercised “maximum restraint” in managing the situation, and used only limited physical restraint where necessary.

“No tear gas, pepper spray, batons, or other crowd-control devices were deployed. Officers relied solely on communication, guidance, and professional engagement to disperse the crowd. Where necessary, limited physical restraint was applied to prevent escalation and ensure safety,” reads the statement.

The police also insisted that protestors were guided out of the restricted security perimeter, and the roads and access points around the Parliament cleared in accordance with established protocols.

“The operation was executed without the use of forceful crowd-control measures and without major injury to either protesters or officers,” reads the statement.

The police rejected allegations of brutality, maintaining that officers followed protocol throughout the operation and applied only the minimal force necessary.

“The Maldives Police Service firmly rejects allegations of brutality. At all stages of the operation, officers acted strictly in line with operational protocols, applying only the minimum force necessary to preserve order and safeguard both demonstrators and law enforcement officers,” reads the statement.

The police also referred to an image circulated in the media, which the agency said was being presented without proper context.

“The individual shown was a participant in an unlawful gathering, not present in the capacity of a journalist. The photo, taken at a selective angle, creates a misleading impression and does not reflect the overall conduct of the operation, during which officers exercised maximum restraint and professionalism,” reads the statement.

It is unclear which image the police are referring to, as there were multiple photographs and videos taken by journalists documenting the protest.

The police conduct during the protest is now the subject of an internal review by the Professional Standards Command.

While the police insisted that the allegations of brutality were false, it also promised to take appropriate disciplinary or legal measures, should any breach of protocol or misconduct be identified during the review.