The United States and regional power India have voiced concern after former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was forcibly dragged into court to face terrorism charges and denied legal access and medical treatment. Here are pictures of the fracas:
Opposition leader and former Maldives' President Mohamed Nasheed arrives at Mal'e City with police officers, for the first hearing of the trial held at a criminal court in Male. Reuters Photo
Police on Monday dragged Maldives' former president Mohamed Nasheed into a court, which ordered his detention while he is tried over his decision to arrest a top judge three years ago. The police ignored his plea to be allowed to walk in himself, and denied him medical attention though the court had ordered "necessary treatment". AFP Photo
Nasheed has been charged under an anti-terrorism law. He had to be dragged into the courtroom after he resisted police attempts to stop him from speaking to journalists gathered outside. Nasheed told the court that his arm hurt after police violently pushed him to the ground, but the three-judge bench brushed aside his complaints, only asking police to grant him treatment after the hearing. PTI Photo
Nasheed has been charged under an anti-terrorism law. He had to be dragged into the courtroom after he resisted police attempts to stop him from speaking to journalists gathered outside. Nasheed told the court that his arm hurt after police violently pushed him to the ground, but the three-judge bench brushed aside his complaints, only asking police to grant him treatment after the hearing. PTI Photo
Instead of taking him to hospital in Male, however, Nasheed was seen being taken away by boat to the nearby prison islet of Dhoonidhoo. His shirt buttons were missing and he appeared in pain throughout the brief hearing. AFP Photo
The three-judge panel gave Nasheed three days to name his lawyers and ordered him detained until the trial is over. The charges against him include using the military to arrest the judge when it had no authority to do so. He is also accused of detaining him for weeks without trial or legal counsel and ignoring a Supreme Court order to release him. AFP Photo
Hundreds of party activists took to the streets shouting anti-government slogans after Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president, was detained. The United States and regional power India have voiced concern Nasheed was forcibly dragged into the court. AFP Photo
The Maldives is a major tourist attraction, but political unrest has dented its image as a peaceful island paradise in recent years — particularly since Nasheed's February 2012 ousting in what he described as a coup. AFP Photo