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Lawyers allege mistreatment of mass-arrestees in Maldives

Xinhua, May 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

Lawyers in the Maldives plan to appeal the sentencing of about 200 anti-government protestors remanded for 15 days amid allegations of mistreatment, local media reported on Thursday.

Lawyers have accused the police of restricting access to protesters arrested from Friday's anti-government demonstration, and raised concern over the packed conditions at the detention center as well as the arrest of pregnant women, senior citizens and nursing mothers.

The main opposition party's legal team is planning to appeal the 15 day remand detention of over 170 protesters arrested after a crackdown on the 20,000-strong protest, local newspaper Minivan News reported.

"Sick people and mothers of infants should be given lighter punishments. These people are not yet convicted, they are only under the suspicion of a crime," lawyer Fareesha Abdulla told reporters.

The 195 arrests made on Friday was the highest number from a single protest in the past decade.

The criminal court had granted a blanket 15-day extension of detention for 175 protesters, while 19 were released after police failed to present them at court in the 24 hours required by law.

In addition to restricting access, lawyers accused police of holding detainees in overcrowded cells with no ventilation and failing to provide medication at prescribed times.

A large number of people came out on May Day to protest against a 13-year jail term handed out to former President Mohamed Nasheed in March. The international community including the UN has consistently criticized the trial as being politically motivated. Endi