Maldives’ former president gets 13 years in jail
A court in Maldives has sentenced former President Mohamed Nasheed to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges, causing concern among and drawing criticism from his supporters, rights groups and several foreign countries.
The three-judge court unanimously handed down the sentence to Nasheed on Saturday over his ordering the arrest and detention of a judge back in 2012.
Nasheed, who is the opposition leader of the Indian Ocean island nation, has called on his supporters to take to the streets to protest against the sentence.
“I appeal to all of you today to stay courageous and strong, to confront the dictatorial power of this regime,” his office quoted him as saying.
His Maldivian Democratic Party said the trial was “blatantly politicized.”
Rights group Amnesty International said the trial was “flawed,” and the conviction was politically motivated.
Nasheed’s lawyers resigned before the end of his brief trial, saying the process was biased and aimed at destroying the former president’s political career.
The sentence will effectively stop Nasheed from running in the next presidential election slated for 2018.
Forty seven-year-old Nasheed, who is a marine scientist and environmental activist, was elected president in the country’ first free polls after the 30-year autocratic rule of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom came to an end in 2008.
On February 7, 2012, Nasheed resigned under pressure from what he called the “powerful networks” of Gayoom loyalists in the police and army.
The half-brother of the former ruler, Gayoom, Abdulla Yameen, is now the president of the country.
The opposition has held regular night-time rallies over the past year to protest what they call growing authoritarianism.
Other countries, including India and the United States, have expressed concern about Nasheed’s treatment and trial as well.
XLS/HJL/SS
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