OTJ to commence prison torture closed hearings this month

The Ombudsperson’s Office for Transitional Justice (OTJ) has announced that they will begin closed hearings on alleged human rights violations, inhuman treatment and torture in Maldives’ prisons that occurred from January 1, 1953 to the end of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s administration on November 17, 2018, will commence this February.

OTJ, in a statement on Tuesday, said that hearings will be held from February 26^th to March 4^th to take statements from prisoners in Maafushi Prison.

They also noted that further hearings are scheduled to be held in Male’ City for which a date will be announced later.

OTJ said information on the hearings will be made public through their website and social media platforms.

OTJ concluded its pre-visit tour in connection to the closed hearings in January.

The purpose of these meetings was to brief the detainees about the closed hearing, inform them about the affidavit of no objection to testifying at these hearings, to have the affidavit signed, and to explain what testifiers should be aware of.