The court's decision strengthens President Abdulla Yameen's majority in the 85-member legislature that will vote to extend the state of emergency for a month.
The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago, is in political turmoil after President Abdulla Yameen imposed a state of emergency and arrested top judges in what the UN has called an “all-out assault on democracy.”
The Maldives has been in crisis since last week, when the Supreme Court quashed convictions ranging from corruption to terrorism against nine opposition figures, including former president Mohamed Nasheed.
The new ruling comes as President Abdulla Yameen moved to assert his power over judges, declaring a state of emergency and ordering security forces to raid the court compound where the justices were arrested.
Best known as an "A-list" holiday destination, the Maldives plunged into crisis after the Supreme Court quashed terrorism convictions against nine leading opposition figures, including the country's exiled, first democratically elected president.
President Abdulla Yameen has declared a 15-day state of emergency, deepening a political crisis in the Maldives that has pitted its leader against the nation's top court.
Tensions gripped the island nation following the court's order to release and retrial of political prisoners, including exiled former President Mohammed Nasheed.
The move followed an order on Thursday by the country's Supreme Court to release nine political dissidents. It also restored the seats of 12 legislators who had been sacked for defecting from President Abdulla Yameen's party.
The surprise ruling clears the way for former president Mohamed Nasheed to return to his homeland and run for reelection against President Abdulla Yameen.
Two opposition leaders accuse soldiers and police of using pepper spray to prevent lawmakers from entering parliament to take part in an impeachment vote against the speaker.
Maldives government says it will allow jailed opposition leaders to attend talks over country's political crisis amid international pressure for reform
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