MALE, Mar 19 (HNS) - Foreign Ministry has said that the reason for the arrest of five Maldivians in Yemen is still unclear.

The five Maldivians, four who had traveled to Yemen and one student living in Yemen who came to greet the visitors, were arrested on February 25.

Foreign Ministry’s Assistant Director General Ahmed Sareer travelled to Yemen to on March 2 to inquire about the conditions of the arrested Maldivians and the reason for their arrest.

He said that he was allowed to meet with those arrested but was not told the reason for the arrest of the five Maldivians.

“As of now the Yemenite government did not reveal the reason for their arrest. The Yemenite government said that those who were arrested were arrested by the security forces of Yemen and that since there were security issues involved the reason for the arrest cannot be disclosed yet,” said Sareer who returned to Maldives on March 14.

“They said they were well. All of them said that they were content with how they were being treated by those keeping them in detention.”

Citing the families of those who went to Yemen, Sareer said that the people went to Colombo, took the visa and then went to Yemen on a business trip.

Sareer said that the identities of those people are not revealed, upon the request of families, and because no crime has been proven upon them.

“I would like to say on this opportunity that the Yemenite government is being contacted to have those Maldivian brought back as soon as possible,” Sareer said.