Maldives opposition to renew efforts to free jailed leader

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) will begin renewed efforts to free jailed party leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed next year, a senior opposition lawmaker said Friday.

Speaking during a MDP rally in Gaaf Dhaal Atoll Thinadhoo island, North-Henveiru MP Abdulla Shahid insisted that the government cannot continue to keep Nasheed imprisoned. MDP would continue its tireless efforts to free Nasheed, the former speaker added.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison in March over the arbitrary arrest of chief criminal judge Abdulla Mohamed during his presidency.

The government has faced mounting international pressure to release Nasheed whose incarceration has been ruled as illegal by a UN panel.

Shahid pointed out that the entire world believes that Nasheed's detention is arbitrary and have echoed calls to free the ex-president.

He also slammed president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government by accusing the incumbent of failing to achieve any of his electoral pledges during the year.

Instead, all president Yameen has looked to do in 2015 is to threaten and detain all his political opponents, Shahid alleged.

Nasheed filed for appeal his prison sentence on Sunday after backtracking on his decision to not appeal his sentence by opting to go to the Supreme Court instead.

In his appeal, Nasheed had sought a lesser penalty under the new penal code that came into effect in November. The Supreme Court had also been asked to nullify the charges lodged against him in the lower court and the subsequent sentence.

source-  http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/65103