Lawmakers submit motion to free ex-President Nasheed

Lawmakers have submitted a motion to the People’s Majlis to free former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed.

The motion was submitted to the Majlis this Wednesday morning by North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla.

The motion calls for dismissal of three decisions. They are:

1. The 13-year-prison sentence issued against Nasheed by the Criminal Court
2. The arrest order issued by Criminal Court on August 29, 2016 for failing to return to Maldives after he was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment
3. The terrorism charge against Nasheed for issuing the order in 2010 to for the alleged illegal arrest of current President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom (then Mulaku MP) and Maamingili MP Qasim Ibrahim

The motion says authorities failed to present him in front of a judge for a remand hearing within 24 hours after his arrest on February 22, 2015. And that he was charged with terrorism and put on trial without legal representation. And that the trial was concluded with hearings held in 19 consecutive days without assurance of proper procedural justice.

The motion mentions that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found Nasheed’s detention violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and his basic human rights.

It said the refusal of the Maldivian administration to accept the working group’s findings violated the administrations responsibility as an endorsee of the UDHR and ICCPR.

The motion also noted that the UN Human Rights Committee found the conviction against Nasheed needs to be overturned due to failure to assure his basic human rights.

The motion says the arrest order issued by Criminal Court on August 29, 2016 for refusing to return from exile is based on a conviction issued by violating his human rights.

It says the terrorism charge against Nasheed for arresting Yameen and Qasim in 2010 was made without proper criminal investigation or without extracting any statement from him in violation of normal procedure under criminal justice system.

The motion calls for the People’s Majlis to instruct the Prosecutor General and Supreme Court to dismiss the two court orders and the terrorism charge and establish justice within the rule of law.

Total 49 lawmakers have endorsed the motion, including 13 members of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

PPM lawmakers who signed the motion to free Nasheed are:

• Thulhaadhoo MP Nazim Rashad
• Isdhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed Ibrahim
• Fares-Maathodaa MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef
• Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed
• Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem
• Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed
• Biledhdhoo MP Ahmed Mubeen
• Madaveli MP Muaz Mohamed Rasheed
• Baarah MP Ibrahim Sujau
• Velidhoo MP Abdulla Yameen Rasheed
• Maavah MP Ahmed Azhan Fahmy
• Guraidhoo MP Hussain Manik Dhon Manik
• Central Fuvahmulah MP Ali Fazaadh