Home Minister Umar Naseer has thanked individuals who led protests on February 7, 2012 – which led to the downfall of former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Umar sent out a tweet on Sunday, describing February 7 as the day citizens got back their rights – a people’s power revolution.
He referred to Nasheed as a “dictator-in-the-making”, and said that he had to resign after citizens went on the streets to voice out their dissatisfaction with the government.7th Feb 2012; A People's Power Revolution. A dictator in-the-making voluntarily resigned when 'Arab Spring' hit the Maldivean streets.— Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerPPM) February 7, 2016
Umar thanked protesters who he described as the “cut-off-team” protecting others from tear gas and gangsters.7th Feb: Karuna geyhaa, gang thakuge valhi thakuge kurimachah nukume, kuree safuga masah kaiy kuri 'Cut-off' team ah varah khaassa shukureh.— Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerPPM) February 7, 2016
He said the protesters had stood up for Islamic religion, democracy and rule of law.
Nasheed has said that the protest was a coup d’etat and that his resignation had been forced out of him.I thank all those who sacrificed and stood up for Islam, democracy and rule of law on the 7th Feb. Special thnx to our ground leaders.— Umar Naseer (@UmarNaseerPPM) February 7, 2016
Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, who took over the role of president after Nasheed, set up a National Inquiry Commission to investigate what took place that day.
The commission announced after their deliberation that it was not a coup d’etat.
Nasheed was later sentenced for 13 years in jail for illegal incarceration of Judge Abdulla, and is currently in UK after being allowed to travel abroad for a back surgery.