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Britain grants political refugee status to Maldives former president

Xinhua, May 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Britain has granted a political refugee status to Maldives former President Mohamed Nasheed, his lawyer Hassen Latheef told Xinhua on Monday.

Nasheed, who was sentenced to 13 years in jail last year on charges of terrorism, left for Britain in January to undergo an urgent back surgery.

The Maldives government said the former president had signed an undertaking to return after his treatment and had left his brother to act as a guarantor.

A government spokesperson told Xinhua from capital Male that they had heard of Britain's decision but would refrain from commenting further at the moment.

"We have heard about Britain's decision and will be discussing it," the spokesperson said.

A criminal court sentenced Nasheed to 13 years in jail last year on charges of terrorism, which Nasheed said was an act of political revenge by the present government.

Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the trial, which lasted less than three weeks, was "blatantly politicized" and was widely criticized in the Maldives and abroad.

His party said Nasheed was repeatedly denied legal representation and the right to appeal.

Nasheed was elected into office in 2008 and in February 2012, he was ousted in a coup. Endit