Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef has condemned the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) rally in Malé on Friday night, describing it as an act of terror against the rule of law under the guise of a peaceful protest.

In a post on X, the Vice President said the MDP’s attempt to disrupt peace and order in the country in the name of freedom of expression endangered public safety and demonstrated the failure of the party to uphold the very principles it claimed to defend. He accused the MDP leadership of carrying out a deliberate act of disruption during a protest that had been authorised in cooperation with the police, adding that putting people’s safety at risk was a cowardly move.

The Vice President further stated that the MDP’s actions served as proof that the party itself had failed to respect the foundations it sought to advocate. He went on to thank the Maldives Police Service for their courage and determination in dispersing the rally, ensuring public safety, and protecting the interests of the nation.

Clashes broke out at Friday’s rally after MDP supporters attempted to divert from the agreed route and enter Majeedhee Magu. Demonstrators threw barricades and seized shields in confrontations with officers, though security forces maintained they did not use excessive force in controlling the unrest.