Court refuses to enforce UN human rights panel ruling on Nasheed

The civil court has thrown out a petition by former President Mohamed Nasheed requesting his immediate release in line with a UN human rights panel ruling. 

The court claimed it had no jurisdiction, according to lawyers.

Nasheed, who was convicted to 13 years in jail on a terrorism charge, is now seeking a “judicial remedy” as urged by President Abdulla Yameen.

Yameen has refused to negotiate the opposition leader’s release despite historic mass protests and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s opinion that Nasheed’s trial and imprisonment was politically motivated.

“The court said that Nasheed is being detained legally and said that the case was not in their jurisdiction. So President Nasheed’s local and international lawyers are currently discussing how we can proceed with the case,” said lawyer Ibrahim Riffath.

Nasheed’s lawyers also filed an appeal at the Supreme Court arguing that the offence he was sentenced for – the arrest of a judge in the last days of his presidency – does not constitute terrorism. It is not clear if and when hearings would begin.

The apex court has signalled that it would hear the prosecutor general’s separate appeal of the sentence. The PG is appealing on different grounds and has asked the court to review if Nasheed’s rights were violated during the criminal court proceedings.

via-  http://maldivesindependent.com/politics/court-refuses-to-enforce-un-human-rights-panel-ruling-on-nasheed-121248