(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the European Union (EU) to obtain the release of four cyber-dissidents, including three persons working for the online newsletter “Sandhaanu”, who have been jailed since police broke up a 13 August 2004 pro-democracy demonstration. One of the detainees, Ahmad Didi, has been tortured and is reported to be in […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the European Union (EU) to obtain the release of four cyber-dissidents, including three persons working for the online newsletter “Sandhaanu”, who have been jailed since police broke up a 13 August 2004 pro-democracy demonstration. One of the detainees, Ahmad Didi, has been tortured and is reported to be in critical condition.
The organisation also urged EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten to “firmly condemn the harsh repression” of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s regime, saying it was urgent to do so because the prisoners were being ill-treated.
The three “Sandhaanu” cyber-dissidents, Mohamed Zaki, Didi and Fathimath Nisreen, and cyber-dissident Naushad Waheed were arrested for participating in the demonstration. Though the four were under house arrest in the capital, Male, at the time, they managed to attend the protest rally and even address the crowd.
Didi returned home before the demonstration ended. Police arrested him a few hours later and took him, blindfolded and handcuffed, to the Girifushi army camp, where he was repeatedly beaten and held in filthy conditions with very little to eat. He received no medical treatment despite having a serious heart condition.
National Security Service (NSS) agents arrested Nisreen at her home on the afternoon of 13 August. She is reportedly being held in solitary confinement at Maafushi prison in a three square metre cell with no mattress and very little food.
Zaki was also arrested on 13 August, but released a few hours later. He was picked up again on 16 August by NSS agents. He suffers from serious back problems. His son was also arrested at the demonstration and is reportedly being held at the Girifushi camp.
Waheed has also been detained but his present whereabouts are unknown.
