Maldives rejects UN decision on detained ex defence minister
The foreign ministry said it “does not agree” with the UN’s finding that Mohamed Nazim was detained illegally.
30 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
The government of Maldives said Monday it “does not agree” with a United Nations judgement that found a former defence minister’s imprisonment on weapons smuggling charges illegal.
In a formal response to the finding of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the foreign ministry insisted that Mohamed Nazim was afforded a fair trial under Maldivian laws.
It went on to dismiss “any notion of arbitrariness” arguing Nazim was not regarded as a political opponent to President Abdulla Yameen at the time of his arrest and because he was currently serving his 11-year-jail term “under house arrest at his residence with his family”.
Decrying bias by the WGAD and asserting the Maldives’ sovereignty, the foreign ministry also said that the 48-year-old retired colonel is yet to petition a Maldivian court over arbitrary detention.
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