Fathimath Nisreen released after 4 years in prison

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Sandhaanu Nisreen pardoned and released - Good news for Human Rights Activists in Maldives

Sunday 9 May 2005

Male' - Fathmath Nisreen who has been sentenced in relation to her involvement in the Sandhaanu Newsletter which was critical of Gayyoom and his government has been released this evening. She was arrested in January 2002 initially and has been in an out of jail and in banishment till today. Nisreen is recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and sparked a widespread international campaign by Reporters Without Boarders for her release.

There are still tens of prisoners of conscience in Maldives jail and in banishment, including other members of Sandhaanu, Zaki and Didi. Gayyoom should release all prisoners of conscience like Naushad Waheed, Sheikh Fareed as well as the recent detainees from Addu Atoll, who have all been subjected to injustices and torture beyond the imagination of a normal person.

Local analysts say that these moves of apparent kindness is designed to muster international support for Gayyoom ahead of his Europe visit this week. He can now say I have released some of them. We will not believe that he means well as long as there are prisoners of conscience in Maldives and as long as he orders arbitrary arrests and torture people in detention, said Saeed who is very pleased that at least Nisreen can now try and rebuild her life after such a horrible experience.

We wish Nisreen well and hope that she will continue with her struggle to bring freedom and justice to the Maldives and show Gayyoom that his methods of torture and punishment if anything increases the our will and determination.