Maldives faces global censure after ex-prez Nasheed is jailed

The government of the Maldives on Saturday faced international condemnation, a day after former president Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison under anti-terrorism laws.

In a court hearing late Friday night, Nasheed, who was arrested on February 22 over the detention of a judge in 2012, was charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1990.

The former president, the first democratically-elected leader of the Indian Ocean archipelago, has a constitutional right of appeal to the high court of the Maldives.

"The United States is concerned with the apparent lack of appropriate criminal procedures during the trial in Maldives against former President Mohamed Nasheed, who was found guilty today and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

"We are particularly troubled by reports that the trial was conducted in a manner contrary to Maldivian law and Maldives' international obligations to provide the minimum fair trial guarantees and other protections under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

"This includes the denial of legal representation to former President Nasheed during the first hearing and concerns regarding the lack of impartiality and independence of the judges," the US said.

An EU statement said "The conviction of former President Mohamed Nasheed for charges under anti-terrorist legislation raises very serious questions about due process of law and risks undermining people's trust in the independence of the judiciary.

"Respect for rule of law, due legal process and independence of the judiciary, in accordance with provisions of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), are central elements of the democratic process. All citizens must be treated in accordance with these provisions, to which the Maldives have a binding obligation," it said.

"Rather than responding to international calls to strengthen the impartiality of the judiciary the government of the Maldives has proceeded with this sham trial for political reasons," Amnesty International said.

47-year-old Nasheed resigned as the Maldives' leader in February 2012 after a mutiny by police and troops that followed weeks of protests over the arrest of judge Abdullah Mohamed on corruption allegations.