Amal Clooney in Maldives for Former President Nasheed’s Case

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has been convicted of terrorism but the trial has been criticised.

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed (Left), International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney with husband George Clooney (Right). (Photo: Reuters)

International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney arrived in the Maldivian capital on Monday to try to secure the release of jailed former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed. He was convicted of terrorism in a case that has drawn international criticism.

Nasheed, the Maldives’ first democratically elected leader, was ousted in 2012 for ordering the arrest of a judge. He is serving a 13-year jail term after a rapid trial in March.

The United Nations, the United States, and human rights groups have said current President Abdullah Yameen’s government failed to follow due process. The case against Nasheed, it is said, was politically motivated.

Clooney will meet Nasheed in a high-security prison in Maafushi Island, where he was taken on August 23 from house arrest.

Nasheed, who fought so hard to bring human rights and democracy to this country, is now a political prisoner here, one of many unfortunately. I am arriving in Male unfortunately at a time when the human rights situation, the security situation, is deteriorating by the day.
– Amal Clooney, International Human Rights Lawyer

Shauna Aminath, an aide to Nasheed, told Reuters that Clooney will pursue legal and diplomatic means to secure his release.

UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein last week called on Yameen’s government to release Nasheed.

He also called for a review of criminal cases against several hundred of Nasheed’s party supporters who have been arrested in protests since May in the Maldives.