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To: asie2@rsf.org
From: RSF asia <asie@rsf.org>
Date sent: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 15:12:05 +0100
Subject: [rsfasie] Maldives - Editors of an
electronic newsletter sentenced to life
in prison (Eng+Fr)
Send reply to: rsfasie-owner@yahoogroups.com
14 February 2003
International Secretariat
Asia-Pacific News Desk
MALDIVES
Editors of an electronic newsletter sentenced to life in prison
Since July 2002, Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee and Ahmed Didi,
editors of the electronic newsletter Sandhaanu, have been serving a
life term in prison. Fathimath Nisreen, Ibrahim Luthfee's assistant,
received a 10-year prison term. They were found guilty of "insulting
the President" and of "committing acts hostile to the government (S)
by creating a newsletter known as Sandhaanu."
Reporters without Borders (Reporters sans frontieres) called upon
the Maldivian President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, to demand the
immediate release of those four people, whose only crime was to
exercise their right to freedom of speech. Indeed, Article 25 of the
Maldives Constitution guarantees that "Every citizen shall have the
freedom to express his conscience and thoughts orally or in writing
or by other meansS"
In January 2002, businessmen Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee and
Ahmed Didi, as well as Fathimath Nisreen, Ibrahim Luthfee's
assistant, were arrested by the police for having circulated articles
critical of the government on their electronic newsletter Sandhaanu.
According to Amnesty International, this Internet publication, written
in Dhivehi (the language of the Maldives), had not advocated violent
political opposition. After being held in solitary confinement for two
weeks by the police force in Male (the capital city), they were
transferred to the detention centre on the island of Dhoonidhoo.
In May, they were charged with "defamation" and "committing acts
hostile to the government" by publishing critical information on
Sandhaanu. The authorities denied them the right to legal
representation and refused to allow visits from their families.
In June, they were transferred to the island of Mafushi, where they
are being held in small cells. On 7 July 2002, Mohamed Zaki,
Ibrahim Luthfee and Ahmed Didi were sentenced to life in prison.
Fathimath Nisreen, 21, was given a 10-year prison term for having
expressed her "dissatisfaction with government policy" and having
sided with the authors of the Sandhaanu articles. The authorities
have denied their request to file an appeal.
During the trial, Ibrahim Luthfee, 37, and Ahmed Didi, 50, admitted
that they were the authors of this electronic newsletter, while 50-
year-old Mohammed Zaki, a resident of Malaysia, was responsible
for sending it to Internet users who requested it. Before the judges,
Ibrahim Luthfee claimed that he was prepared to prove, point-by-
point, every accusation that he had made against President
Gayoom.
They are all still behind bars on the island of Mafushi, under harsh
prison conditions. The authorities have placed them in Block C,
usually reserved for drug addicts and thieves. Their cells are not
ventilated and they only receive five litres of water a day for drinking
and washing. Their families are not permitted to visit them more than
once a month.
MALDIVES
Les animateurs d'un bulletin d'information electronique condamnes a
la prison a vie
Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim Luthfee et Ahmad Didi, responsables du
bulletin d'information electronique Sandhaanu, purgent depuis juillet
2002 une peine de prison a perpetuite. Fatimath Nisreen, assistante
d'Ibrahim Luthfee, a ete condamnee a dix ans de prison. Ils ont ete
reconnus coupables d'avoir "insulte le President" et d'avoir "tente de
renverser le gouvernement (S) en creant un bulletin d'information
denomme Sandhaanu."
Reporters sans frontieres s'est adressee au president des Maldives,
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, pour demander la liberation immediate de
ces quatre personnes dont le seul crime est d'avoir exerce leur droit
a la liberte d'expression. Ainsi, l'article 25 de la Constitution des
Maldives garantit a tous les citoyens "le droit d'exprimer sa
conscience et ses idees oralement, par ecrit ou par tout autre
moyen".
En janvier 2002, les hommes d'affaires Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim
Luthfee et Ahmad Didi, ainsi que Fathimath Nisreen, assistante
d'Ibrahim Luthfee, ont ete arretes par la police pour avoir diffuse des
articles critiques du gouvernement sur leur bulletin d'information
electronique Sandhaanu. Selon Amnesty International, le bulletin en
divehi (langue des Maldives) ne comportait aucun appel a la
violence. Apres avoir ete detenus au secret pendant deux semaines
par la police de Male (capitale), ils ont ete transferes au centre de
detention de l'ile de Dhoonodhoo.
En mai, ils ont ete inculpes de "diffamation" et d'avoir "tente de
renverser le gouvernement" en publiant des informations sur
Sandhaanu. Les autorites leur ont refuse le droit de consulter un
avocat et de recevoir des visites de leurs familles.
En juin, ils ont ete transferes sur l'ile de Mafushi ou ils sont detenus
dans de petites cellules. Le 7 juillet 2002, Mohamed Zaki, Ibrahim
Luthfee et Ahmad Didi ont ete condamnes a la prison a vie.
Fathimath Nisreen, agee de 21 ans, a quant a elle ete condamnee a
dix ans de prison ferme pour avoir notamment exprime son
"mecontentement a l'encontre de la politique du gouvernement" et
avoir soutenu les auteurs des articles de Sandhaanu. Les autorites
leur ont refuse de se pourvoir en appel.
Lors du proces, Ibrahim Luthfee, age de 37 ans, et Ahmad Didi, age
de 50 ans, ont reconnu etre les auteurs de ce bulletin d'information
electronique, tandis que Mohamed Zaki, age de 50 ans et residant
en Malaisie, etait charge de l'envoyer aux internautes qui le
demandaient. Ibrahim Luthfee a affirme aux juges qu'il etait pret a
prouver point par point les accusations qu'il a lancees contre le
president Gayoom.
Ils sont toujours incarceres sur l'ile de Mafushi dans des conditions
de detention difficiles. Les autorites les ont places dans le Bloc C
habituellement reserve aux drogues et aux voleurs. Leurs cellules ne
sont pas ventilees et ils ne disposent que de cinq litres d'eau par jour
pour boire et se laver. Leurs familles ne sont autorisees a leur
rendre visite qu'une fois par mois.
– Vincent Brossel Asia - Pacific Desk Reporters Sans Frontieres 5
rue Geoffroy Marie 75009 Paris 33 1 44 83 84 70 33 1 45 23 11 51
(fax) asia@rsf.org www.rsf.org
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