The ongoing trial of former President Mohamed Nasheed was again the
subject of debate in London this week, as well as the current human
rights situation in the country.
On Tuesday night, the Conservative Party’s Human Rights Commission
convened to discuss the Maldives, inviting speakers from the government,
the opposition, and civil society to participate in the event titled
“Human rights and Democracy in the Maldives: Where do we go from here?”
The following day, a private members debate was secured by Karen
Lumley MP in the House of Commons to discuss the role of the UK
government and the Commonwealth in ensuring a fair trial for Nasheed,
whose case was postponed on Sunday following a high court injunction.
Tuesday’s meeting was attended by former High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom Dr Farahanaz Faizal, former Foreign Minister and current
UN Special Rapporteur Dr Ahmed Shaheed, barrister – and current member
of Nasheed’s legal team – Sir Ivan Lawrence QC, as well as Amnesty International’s South Asia specialist Abbas Faiz.
Invitations were also extended to the Acting High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom Ahmed Shiaan and Minister for Tourism Ahmed Adheeb.
However, after queries from panel members in attendance as to the
whereabouts of the government’s representatives, the committee’s Chair
Robert Buckland MP informed those present that, despite having initially
accepted the invitation, the government representatives had withdrawn.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said that Adheeb had been unable to
attend the meeting as it had clashed with a ministerial dinner. He had
also been busy with duties related to the 2012 World Travel Market,
which had been the primary purpose of his visit to London.
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