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AVSEQ01_0001 Actions taken by families of detainees

www.maldiviandetainees.net , 27 October 2005

Abdullah Shabeer
Mother of detainee reported detainee was sentenced in connection to the popular street demonstrations of 20 September 2003 following the custodial killings of five prisoners. Mother of detainee reported she is attempting to acquire the written verdict of the Criminal Court in order to prepare an appeal to the High Court. Mother of detainee reported sympathizers provided the finance to retain a lawyer to represent detainee.

Mother of detainee reported that the President, in his speech on television on the night of 20 September 2003 said that he understood the feelings of hatred that the general public had felt with regard to the custodial murders, as the President himself was experiencing similar emotions. Mother of detainee reported the President ended the speech saying that he would pardon the actions of the youth who had come out on the streets expressing their feelings on that day.

Mother of detainee noted that the President seemed to have forgotten his words since many of the youth had already been sentenced for such long periods that their lives would be completely ruined. Mother of detainee also noted that the nephew of the First Lady who had also been charged with the same offence as her son had been able to evade prosecution. Mother of detainee expressed her view that only families who were considered inferior or political opponents of the current government were sentenced.

Mother of detainee reported detainee was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment under article 6(b) in reference to the articles 2(f) and (g) of the anti-terrorism law on 2 October 2005.

The article 6(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Whoever commits an act of terrorism which does not involve the death of any person shall be punishable with imprisonment of banishment for a term not less than ten years but not exceeding fifteen years. The punishment of any person found to have participated in the commission or planning of such an act shall also be the same. Any person found to have aided or abetted in the commission of the crime or concealed information relating to the crime shall be punishable by imprisonment or banishment for a term not less than three years but not exceeding seven years.

The article 2(f) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

The setting on fire, or the causing of damage, or the attempt to do the same, to the property of any person or persons in any way that may harm life, people or property;

The article 2(g) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Any act or the attempt to commit an act that may instill fear among the people or threaten life, person or property of any person verbally or in writing.

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Abdullah Alexander (Alias: Alec)
http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/individuals/145Alexander.htm

Guardian of detainee reported detainee was sentenced in connection to the popular street demonstrations of 20 September 2003 following the custodial killings of five prisoners. Guardian of detainee reported she called the Criminal Courts enquiring a status of the written verdict of detainee on 24 October 2005. Guardian of detainee reported the court officials told her that the written verdict had not been completed.

Guardian of detainee reported she has written to the Minister of Justice requesting that the process of preparing a written verdict for the detainee is expedited so that the family of detainee can prepare for an appeal to the High Court as soon as possible. Guardian of detainee reported she also said in her letter to the Minister of Justice that more than three weeks had already elapsed since the Court had sentenced the detainee to imprisonment.

Guardian of detainee reported detainee holds a Dutch passport since father of detainee had migrated to Holland when the detainee was one-year old. Guardian of detainee reported detainee was twelve-years of age when he came back to the Maldives. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities had prepared a Maldivian identity card for detainee following his arrest in 2003.

Guardian of detainee reported detainee was sentenced for eleven years imprisonment under article 6(b) with reference to article 2(f) and (g) of the anti-terrorism law, on 2 October 2005.

Article 6(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Whoever commits an act of terrorism which does not involve the death of any person shall be punishable with imprisonment of banishment for a term not less than ten years but not exceeding fifteen years. The punishment of any person found to have participated in the commission or planning of such an act shall also be the same. Any person found to have aided or abetted in the commission of the crime or concealed information relating to the crime shall be punishable by imprisonment or banishment for a term not less than three years but not exceeding seven years.

Article 2(f) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

The setting on fire, or the causing of damage, or the attempt to do the same, to the property of any person or persons in any way that may harm life, people or property;

Article 2(g) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Any act or the attempt to commit an act that may instill fear among the people or threaten life, person or property of any person verbally or in writing.

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Jennifer Latheef
http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/individuals/5jenny.htm

Sister of detainee reported the detaining authorities granted detainee a phone call to the family on 26 October 2005.

Sister of detainee reported detainee said that she had informed the prison authorities about the malfunctioning toilets in the prison and that the water was polluted and not fit for drinking. Sister of detainee reported detainee is otherwise in good health although she has still not recovered emotionally from the shock of being sentenced to ten years imprisonment for a crime she did not commit.

Sister of detainee reported detainee has been elected unanimously as the president of her cell in the Maldivian Democratic Party, the principal opposition party.

Father of detainee reported detainee was sentenced to ten years imprisonment under article 6(b) in reference to the articles 2(f) and (g) of the anti-terrorism law, on 18 October 2005. Father of detainee reported detainee was sentenced in connection to the popular street demonstrations of 20 September 2003 following the custodial killings of five prisoners.

The article 6(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Whoever commits an act of terrorism which does not involve the death of any person shall be punishable with imprisonment of banishment for a term not less than ten years but not exceeding fifteen years. The punishment of any person found to have participated in the commission or planning of such an act shall also be the same. Any person found to have aided or abetted in the commission of the crime or concealed information relating to the crime shall be punishable by imprisonment or banishment for a term not less than three years but not exceeding seven years.

The article 2(f) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

The setting on fire, or the causing of damage, or the attempt to do the same, to the property of any person or persons in any way that may harm life, people or property;

The article 2(g) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Any act or the attempt to commit an act that may instill fear among the people or threaten life, person or property of any person verbally or in writing.

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Ahmed Ibrahim Didi
http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/individuals/17Didi.htm

Detainee reported the Department for Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Service (DPRS) took him to a doctor on 23 October 2005. Detainee reported he experiences severe headaches and heart problems and that the doctor had prescribed him medication. Detainee reported the doctor advised him to obtain medical treatment from abroad as the hospitals in Male' did not have the proper facilities for his treatment.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities refused to grant him permission to travel for his medical treatment despite several requests and detainee being admitted at the Intensive Care Unit two separate times.

Detainee reported that he remains under house arrest despite the fact he has been recognized as a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International.

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Mohamed Nazim
Detainee reported the police arrested him on 13 October 2005 and released him without charge on 24 October 2005.

Detainee reported the police sent him a chit summoning him to the police headquarters in Male' at 16:00 on 13 October 2005. Detainee reported he attended the police headquarters where the police arrested and transported him by speedboat to the Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center with three other detainees.

Detainee reported the police informed him the reason for his arrest was gathering people onto the streets and disturbing the peace. Detainee reported he explained to the policemen that he had come from his residing island to Male' in order to buy stocks for his shop and asked them why he had been arrested without any evidence. Detainee reported the police responded by simply saying that they were given orders to arrest him.

Detainee expressed his view that the police arrested him as he was a supporter of the Maldivian Democratic Party, the principal opposition party, and to prevent him participating in the Maldivian Democratic Party’s general meeting on 13 October 2005.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities held him in a small solitary confinement cell that lacked ventilation and was in a fetid condition. Detainee reported the detaining authorities provided him with a bed and pillows but that he was unable to sleep due to the mosquitoes and other insect swarms.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities refused to provide him with fresh water and toiletries except for a single bar of soap. Detainee reported the detaining authorities informed him that he should ask his family to send him toiletries. Detainee reported his family told him they received his request four days after he had requested the police to inform his family. Detainee reported that he received toiletries on 18 October 2005.

Detainee reported the interrogating authorities questioned him on 18 October 2005 as to whether he had called people on to the streets and whether he was told about anyone else who called for the people to gather in the streets. Detainee reported he told the interrogating officer that he resides in Thinadhoo Island and could not gather people onto the streets of Male' while being in Thinadhoo Island. Detainee reported he informed the police that the President gathers people onto the street through his part, the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party. Detainee reported he asked the interrogator as to why only he should be arrested for questioning and the police simply responded by saying that orders had been sent to arrest him. Detainee reported that he signed a statement on that day.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities did not inform his family the reason for his arrest despite his family making repeated calls and visits to the police headquarters. Detainee reported his brother wrote to the detaining authorities requesting access to the detainee but was refused access.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities released him without charge on 24 October 2005 at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center. Detainee reported the detaining authorities warned him not to engage in such activities and forced him to sign a statement which said that he could be henceforth summoned to the police headquarters at any time. Detainee reported the detaining authorities transferred him to Male on a speedboat and let him go at the harbour.

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