Maldives chief prosecutor denies political influence

Prosecutor General Bisham defended her track record during the previous administration.

Opposition denounces conviction of chief justice

The joint opposition denounced a five-month jail sentence handed to Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed as ambassadors from the US and UK questioned the possibility of free and fair polls this year.

Top UN official arrives in Malé to resuscitate all-party talks

Tamrat Samuel, a senior advisor to the UN’s department of political affairs, is seeking to lay the groundwork “for substantive political party dialogue in the interest of attaining long-term political stability and rule of law in the Maldives.”

US senate urges Maldives to redress “injustice” of Nasheed’s jailing

Expressing “profound disappointment” with the bipartisan resolution, which was passed unanimously on Thursday, the government has defended the opposition leader’s conviction on a terrorism charge and insisted that there are no political prisoners in the country.

UK will consider Maldives sanctions, says Cameron

“We want to see a change in behaviour from the Maldivian government to make sure that political prisoners are set free and yes we are prepared to consider targeted action against individuals if further progress isn’t made,” Cameron told the British parliament yesterday.

Weekly prayer for political prisoners angers Islamic Ministry

The ministry claimed in a statement yesterday that the MDP’s prayer contains ill wishes towards particular people, describing it as a “show off”. Hundreds of opposition supporters have been gathering outside the Islamic centre in Malé every week after Friday prayers since the arrest of former President Mohamed Nasheed in February.

MDP gears up for mass protest on Nov 27

The main opposition party originally planned to hold the anti-government demonstration on November 6, but was forced to call it off after President Abdulla Yameen declared an unprecedented 30-day state of emergency and suspended the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

Nasheed must appeal at Supreme Court, says President Yameen

The government has done all it could to ensure former President Mohamed Nasheed’s right to appeal his conviction on terrorism charges, President Abdulla Yameen said last night, and advised the opposition leader to file an appeal at the Supreme Court after the High Court rejected the state’s appeal of his 13-year jail sentence.

Diplomatic pressure ramps up on Maldives