Nasheed calls for immediate release of Jabir, Hamid, Zaki, Zuhair

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has called for the immediate release of Kaashidhoo MP Abdullah Jabir, Henveiru-dhekunu MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor, Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, and former Press Secretary Mohamed Zuhair, who have been arrested under suspicion of alcohol consumption.

Police arrested them under an operation Hdh. Hondaidhoo, an island being developed as a tourist resort.

Police have confirmed that the arrests made in Hdh. Hondaidhoo were for suspicion of alcohol consumption.

Nasheed tweeted about this incident twice this morning.

In his first tweet, he said, “Hon. Ibrahim Hussain Zaki was arrested last night. He must be released now.”

In his second tweet, he said, “Less than 24 hrs after my frmr VP threatening Parliament, Police arrested MPs Hamid & Jabir, my Press Sec Zuhair. They must come out now.”

Hdh. Hondaidhoo was previously inhabited. The island’s people were moved to Hdh. Hanimaadhoo in 1997 under the government's population centralisation policy. The island was leased to Abdullah Jabir's Yacht Tours for 21 years in 2003, for resort development.

Less than 24 hrs after my frmr VP threatening Parliament, Police arrested MPs Hamid & Jabir, my Press Sec Zuhair. They must come out now.

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) November 16, 2012