International - Globescan   

10-year jail term for human rights activist

COLOMBO: A Maldives court has sentenced a human rights activist to 10 years in prison for ``instigating terrorism,'' a government spokesman said. Jennifer Latheef (32) was sent to jail after being identified as ``one of the instigators'' of pro-democracy riots in September 2003 in the capital Male, government spokesman Mohamed Shareef said. She is the daughter of the exiled founder of the main Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, Mohamad Latheef. Four others charged with the same offence were also given 10-year prison sentences last week, and another person fled the country, he added. Unprecedented anti-government riots broke out in the Maldives in 2003 when an inmate died in prison after allegedly being tortured by authorities. Ms. Latheef's father, who lives in exile in Sri Lanka, called the verdict ``outrageous. She did nothing wrong, there is no evidence whatsoever''. The government chose to punish his daughter because they couldn't get at him, he added. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Bird flu is global threat, says European Union
Iraqis indifferent to trial of Saddam Hussein
Saddam's day in court
Poll selects Noam Chomsky as world's top intellectual
Over a million jobs may have been lost in Pakistan
Rajapakse promises new approach to conflict resolution
China puts on hold visit by Japanese Foreign Minister
Chicken toy raises hackles
A gorilla gets cracking
Bangladesh Government bans Harkat-ul-Jihad
U.S., U.K. in unholy alliance, says Mugabe
Ship collision: pilgrims rescued
Immigrants "robbed, dumped in Sahara desert"
George Weah faces run-off
10-year jail term for human rights activist
U.K. officer faces trial
India, U.S. sign science and technology pact
Pakistan condemns killing
Climate change issues: Japanese leader's call

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu