**For background to previous harassment of Mohamed Nasheed, see IFEX alerts dated 10 March 1995, 8 and 1 December 1994** On 3 April 1996, journalist Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to two years in prison. He was convicted under Law No. 38B of the Penal Code for sedition and defamation of the State for an article […]
**For background to previous harassment of Mohamed Nasheed,
see IFEX alerts dated 10 March 1995, 8 and 1 December 1994**
On 3 April 1996, journalist Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to two
years in prison. He was convicted under Law No. 38B of the Penal
Code for sedition and defamation of the State for an article
published on 3 October 1994 by the Inter Press Service about the
1994 general election in Maldives. The following day he was taken
to Gaamadhoo prison.
Nasheed was taken in for questioning about the article in
mid-October 1994, and in December 1994 was held for seven days
before being charged and released pending the trial verdict. The
trial was completed in May 1995, but the sentence was not
announced until almost a year later. During the past 16 months,
he had lived under restriction and had been denied permission to
travel outside the main island of Male.
Nasheed was awarded the Fund for Free Expression Award in 1994.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Nasheed
to his writings and contravene his right to free expression as
guaranteed under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
the return of his passport
Appeals To
President Maymoon Abdul Gayoom
President’s Office
Marine Drive (North)
Male
Maldives
Fax: + 960 325 525
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
