Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

"My main objective has been to raise the standard of living of the people, to achieve social and economic progress."

"I think our human rights record is very good. ... there is no systematic human rights abuses in the Maldives, there are no arbitrary arrests and people are tried in open court and they have access to lawyers."

"These people where inciting people to violence. That is not allowed in any country, in any democracy. You don't allow that in the United Kingdom, you don't allow that in the United States, or anywhere in the world."

"Freedom of expression is guaranteed by our constitution."

"When asked about why the opposition members were arrested, Gayyoom replied "Violence, Violence, Violence""

"Yes, because that conceals their character. You don't know who you are talking to. Who you are dealing with. So, the face should be seen. That is even in Islam, even during the time of the holy Prophet Mohammed, women used to have bare faces. I mean women did not cover their faces. ""