<p>Opposition MPs wore masks in the People’s Majlis, the Maldivian parliament, on Monday, July 31, in protest against the military lockdown of the parliament that began on July 24.</p><p>The protesters donned masks of Major General Ahmed Shiyam, the head of the Maldives National Defence Force.</p><p>According to the Maldives Independent</a>, clashes between MPs and security forces inside the parliament followed, with the speaker’s chair later surrounded by security.</p><p>The protests followed an attempt on July 24</a> by the opposition to hold a no-confidence vote against the speaker, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, a key ally of President Abdulla Yameen. The motion was thrown out, leading to protests at the parliament and the subsequent lockdown. Credit: Ahmed Mahloof via Storyful</p><br />
