Family members of former Maldivian Defence Minister call on intl. community to intervene in securing his release

Family members of former Maldivian Defence Minister Col (Ret) Mohamed Nazim today called on the Sri Lankan government and the international community to intervene in securing the release of the politician who has been placed under house arrest for the past 20 months.

The family members backed human rights activist and lawyers addressing a press conference in Colombo said Col (Ret) Nazim was being held under what they called ‘fabricated charges’  of possessing a pistol.

Adam Azim, brother of the ex-Defence Minister said that despite the availability of fresh evidence that the weapon did not belong to Nazim the local courts there were not willing to consider the evidence.

Mr Abbas Faiz, Independent Human Rights Consultant, formerly a senior Amnesty International Researcher on South Asia said that there a crack down on opposition politicians in Maldives by the incumbent president Abdulla Yameen and his government.

He said they were appealing to international community to bring pressure on the Maldivian government to release Col (Ret) Nazim who is being held after an ‘unfair’ trial.

He said fresh  DNA evidence  has emerged that the weapon did not belong to the former Defence Minister, yet the evidence is not being considered by courts.

Member of Parliament, Ali Hussain, said that they have made use of all local legal resources, but have had not success and therefore were now depending that the international community will take up the case.  

The family members and lawyers are also due to brief the diplomatic community about the detention.