The Maldivian government has announced that former President Mohammed Nasheed, now in the United Kingdom on a medical leave, can still seek extension of the leave, by submitting required documents.
In mid-January, Mr. Nasheed was allowed to leave the Maldives on a 30-day-long leave. Subsequently, he had wanted the leave to be extended by two months, which was reported to have been rejected.
‘He submitted vague document’
Without referring to reports on the rejection, the President’s Office, in a release issued on Monday, stated that the former President had submitted “just one vague, unverified document” where as per the copy of the given procedures, two specialists must recommend his further treatment in order for an extension to be considered. Earlier, he was asked to return to the country as the duration of his original medical leave was over and “he has failed to submit proper medical records with his application for the medical leave extension.”
U.S. resolution
Last week, the U.S. Senate adopted a resolution, calling upon the government of the Maldives to “take all necessary steps to redress this injustice [regarding the prosecution and conviction of Mr. Nasheed “without due process”]; release all political prisoners, and “ensure due process and freedom from political prosecution” for all the people of the Maldives.
