Detainees held at the Gan Police Custodial in Laamu Atoll have initiated a hunger strike, demanding to be transferred to a designated remand prison, according to police.
The Maldives Police Service confirmed to Sun that its Professional Standards Command is monitoring the situation. The agency has also shared details of the strike with the National Integrity Commission (NIC) and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).
The NIC stated that the strike began on Monday evening, and that its emergency response team has been deployed and remains on standby. Neither the NIC nor police have disclosed how many detainees are participating.
Sources told Sun that the strikers include individuals detained pending trial.
On October 3, six individuals arrested during th Lootuvaifi anti-government rally organized by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) launched a hunger strike at Dhoonidhoo Custodial. Those detainees were later released.
Custodial hunger strikes in the Maldives have historically raised concerns about access to legal counsel, medical care, and remand conditions. The NIC and HRCM are mandated to monitor such incidents and ensure detainees’ rights are upheld.