Maldives: Release of artist and internet dissident

Maldives: Release of artist and internet dissidenthighlights failings of justice system

AmnestyInternational welcomes today's release of prisoners ofconscience Ahmad Ibrahim Didi and Naushad Waheed, but urgesthe government to take decisive action to reform thecriminal justice system to prevent further politicallymotivated detentions.

"Ahmad Ibrahim Didi and NaushadWaheed were tried in grossly unfair trials simply forexpressing their peaceful opinions," said Abbas Faiz, SouthAsia researcher at Amnesty International. "Their releasetoday is welcome but long overdue. We urge the government torelease all the other prisoners of conscience still detainedin the Maldives."

"This case highlights the urgent needfor reform of the criminal justice system to safeguardagainst the prevalent use in the Maldives of arbitraryarrest and unfair trials," said Abbas Faiz.

Ahmad IbrahimDidi was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002 for hisinvolvement in the production of an internet email magazine,Sandhaanu. It contained articles critical of the governmentand was circulated widely amongst Maldivians. NaushadWaheed, an artist and cartoonist, was detained in 2002 aftercontacting Amnesty International and taking part in debatescritical of the government.

Other political prisonersdetained in the Maldives for expressing their peacefulopposition to the government's policies include MohamedNasheed, opposition party politician, and Jennifer Latheef,a prisoner of conscience convicted in an unfair trial inOctober 2005 for taking part in demonstrations in thecapital Male.

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