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Ashwa Faheem
POLITICS: at its most beautiful gives people the freedom to express, helps change lives for the better, but at its ugliest can take away these basic rights to protect the interests of few. These are photos from the Maldives through its turbulent post-coup days (2012-present).
 Armed In SilhouttesPolice with full armour and shields approaching protestors calling for an early election in the Maldives after the coup of 2012. |  Pepper sprayedProtestors helping each other to wash off pepper spray before returning to rejoin the crowds. |  Amidst chaos #1Clad between police and protestors during a taxi drivers' protest after the implementation of new regulations curtailing their rights. |
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 Amidst chaos #2A protestor carrying white pants-which became an iconic symbol during protests against the corrupt Maldivian judiciary. It started when a supreme court judge was seen wearing one in a leaked video of illicit nature. |  Amidst chaos #3A man wearing the famous iconic white underwear mocking the corrupt Maldivian judiciary. |  Amidst chaos #4Women played a vital role in trying to re-establish democracy after the first democratically elected president of the Maldives was ousted in a military coup in 2012. |
 The WaitPolice stand in awaiting order to control a protest in the Maldives. |  The clash #1Police with full riot gear armed with pepper spray and rubber bullets, face to face with protestors calling for early elections in 2012. |  The clash #2Police with full riot gear armed with pepper spray and rubber bullets, face to face with protestors calling for early elections in 2012. |
 The pleaDuring a protest held in 2012 in the Maldives after the fall of the government that year, a woman pleas with the police to help them have a presidential elections soon. |  Fundamentalism on the rise.Female supporters of fundamental Islam and ISIS, calling for the establishment of Sharia' law in the Maldives. |  Freedom compromisedA man being arrested during a protest against the coup government in the 2012. Male' City, Maldives. |
 Faces of Politics: Island PresidentFormer President of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed seen as the face of Maldivian democracy and also global campaigns to raise awareness against the effects of anthropogenic climate change. |  Faces of Politics: Island PresidentThe first democratically elected President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed giving a speech at a rally on 2012. It was through the efforts of him and his supporters the 30 year dictatorship was abolished. |  Faces of Politics: Royal GreetingsThe Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz arriving in the Maldives being received by President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. |
 Faces of Politics: Neighbours meetMahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime minister of Sri Lanka, on his first official visit to the Maldives in 2014. |  Faces of Politics: SuperpowersXi Jinping, the first Chinese premier to visit Maldives during a state visit in 2014. |
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