With forced removal of banners, ‘India Out’ graffitied outside homes

Supporters of the ‘India Out’ campaign has begun graffiting spelling altered ‘India Out’ messages outside homes.

In this regard, ‘In Dear Out’, a play on the words ‘India Out’ has been graffitied at G. Green Beans, a house situated at Rahdhebai Hingun.

The graffiti drawn on a garage door depict the Maldivian flag, alongside a map of Maldives that is being trampled on by a shoe. Next to the garage door on the wall, is a reference to the Indian flag, with ‘out’ written in its middle.

‘India Out’ is a campaign led by the opposition coalition in protest of Indian military presence in the Maldives.

Whilst they were gearing up to expand ‘India Out’ campaign across the Maldives, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a decree declaring the ‘India Out’ campaign as a threat to national security.

In the presidential decree titled ‘Stopping Planned Activities to Incite Hatred Towards Specific Countries Under Various Slogans’ which was gazetted today, it was stressed that the National Security Council had decided the ‘India Out’ campaign posed a threat to national security.

The decree also read that political campaigns targeting a specific country posed a threat to national security.

President Solih, in the decree, also said the ‘India Out’ campaign put Maldives at risk of loss of peace and stability, huge economic and social burden, and isolation in the international arena.

He said that failure to save Maldives from the danger could lead to irrevocable losses, and make it difficult to maintain Maldives’ independence, and ascertain the safety of Maldivians living or visiting overseas, and foreigners in Maldives.

Citing these reasons, President Solih had ordered to stop ‘India Out’ activities and instructed all government authorities to enforce this.

Subsequently, huge banners with ‘India Out’ written in bold letters were hung at former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s house, H. Dhoovehi, and PPM headquarters, located in H. Hurafa, were both forcibly removed by Police after entering the buildings with court orders.

Spelling altered ‘India Out’ banners placed on later, which read ‘In Dear Out’ were also removed.

Opposition coalition has filed a case at the Civil Court, to nullify the President’s decree, citing it to be unlawful.