Lawyer Abdulla Haseen suspended

Lawyer Abdulla Haseen has been suspended such that he cannot contest cases in Maldivian courts. He has been suspended in relation to a case currently being investigated by the police.

Speaking to Sun today, Haseen said that the Supreme Court has written to him informing him of his suspension. Haseen said that the statement states that he has been suspended until the completion of an investigation of a case submitted to the Police in regard to statements he made while speaking on VTV Thilafai program on the 1st of this month, and that his statements were against the Regulation of Protecting the Sanctity of the Courts.

Haseen said that he has not said anything on a VTV program that would breach the sanctity of the Maldivian courts and that he believes that he has been suspended because of his participation as a defence lawyer to over 170 people belonging to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who are being prosecuted for terrorism charges. He said that he also believes it is because he has been active in representing a large number of people who have been arrested during MDP protests.

Haseen said that the actions by some of the judicial courts impede the sanctity of the judicial courts and that he had expressed his constructive views in order to protect the sanctity of the courts during the VTV program.

“The sanctity of the judicial courts in Maldives are lost due to some actions of some of the judicial courts. I have expressed my constructive views on VTV to protect the sanctity of the courts,” said Haseen.

He said that these actions are not surprising and that the international community too believes that a number of problems exist in the Maldivian judicial system. Haseen said that the suspension is a limitation to his rights and that he will submit the case in to the Civil court soon.