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Maldives seeks clarification from Britain over ex leader's refugee status

Xinhua, May 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Maldivian government said on Monday that it had sought a clarification from Britain over its decision to grant a refugee status to former president Mohamed Nasheed.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry in Male, the government said that the Maldives was concerned about media reports of Nasheed seeking political asylum in Britain while visiting on "medical leave" from a 13-year prison sentence imposed by a Criminal Court.

The Foreign Ministry said that Nasheed was granted an exceptional medical leave by the Maldivian authorities after which he was expected to return to the island country to serve the remainder of his sentence.

"This latest development clearly demonstrates that the intention was to seek to avoid serving his prison sentence, and thus again, the former president has once again exhibited a distinct lack of commitment to the legal process and continues to manipulate the process for political gain, believing that he remains above the law," the ministry said.

"Further, the government of the Maldives is disappointed, if confirmed, that the UK government is allowing itself to be part of this charade, and further, is enabling an individual to circumvent his obligations under the law."

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.

Nasheed's office in a statement on Monday evening said that the British Home Office confirmed that Nasheed had been granted a refugee status in Britain.

The former president left for Britain in January to undergo an urgent back surgery and has since then remained in Britain with his family.

In January, the Maldivian government said the former president had signed an undertaking to return after his treatment and had left his brother to act as a guarantor. Endit