The United States calls on the Maldivian government to cease political trials.
The request was made at time when the State had pressed terrorism charges on Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla, who was subsequently given a 12-year prison sentence by the Criminal Court on Tuesday night.
US Department of State’s Deputy Spokesperson Mark C. Toner said that the US is concerned over the sentencing, adding that Imran is now the third political leader imprisoned in the Maldives within a year’s span.
He also expressed doubts on whether the laws made in the Maldives are in accordance to the international treaties in which the Maldives is part of.
He criticized the Maldivian government on their “failure” to provide the necessary protection for political leaders.
“We renew our call for the Maldivian government to end politically motivated trials and to take steps to restore confidence and a commitment to democracy and human rights including freedom of expression and the rule of law and judicial independence,” he added.
Several opposition figures in the Maldives had also criticized the verdict laid on Imran, while some members of the international community expressed their concerns over the issue as well.