– President Yameen putting his opponents in jail but not taking any action against those joining the Islamic State –
New Delhi: Asian Centre for Human Rights today called upon the UN Human Rights Council, which is holding its 29th session from today i.e.15th June 2015 in Geneva, to adopt a resolution on the deplorable human rights situation in Maldives which has arisen as a consequence of the singular aim of President Abdullah Yameen to sentence key political opponents to long term imprisonment and disqualify them as candidates in the 2018 Presidential elections.
“Maldives is a case of grave mockery in the fight against terrorism. While former President Mohammed Nasheed has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment under trumped up terrorism charges and Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla, Jumhooree Party’s Deputy Leader Ameen Ibrahim and council member of the JP Sobah Rasheed are facing prosecution under terrorism charges for participating in the May Day rally on 1 May 2015, President Yameen has taken little or no visible measures to counter real terrorists i.e. over 200 Maldivians who are currently fighting for Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria with at least four of them having died in the fighting while many have returned to Maldives.”- Stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.
“Whether ex-President Nasheed is also paying the price for exposing participation of the Maldivians in the IS through an interview to The Independent (UK), on 14 September 2014 requires investigation by all the States engaged in the war against terror.’ – further demanded Mr Chakma.
Asian Centre for Human Rights stated that the measures taken by President Yameen against his democratic political opponents constitute “gross and systematic violations of human rights” as provided under Operative Paragraph 8 of the General Assembly resolution 60/251 establishing the UN Human Rights Council.
ACHR called upon the members of the UN Human Rights Council, in particular EU and India, to adopt a resolution on the human rights situation in Maldives at the ongoing 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will, inter alia, demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners charged with terrorism offences including ex-President Nasheed and former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim, appointment of a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Maldives, and recommendation to the UN General Assembly to suspend the membership of Maldives in the UN Human Rights Council as provided under Operative Paragraph 8 of the General Assembly resolution 60/251 establishing the UN Human Rights Council. [Ends]
To read the full report please click here: http://achrweb.org/Review/2015/245-15.html
