Council member Shidhaatha Shareef, hot on the heels of a visit to Sri Lanka last week, told reporters that she had met with representatives of the European Union and the Canadian ambassador, and briefed them on the political situation in the Maldives. The diplomats implored the continued detention of Adhaalath Party president Imran Abdulla without a trial, she added. “All of them noted that no country or international organisation would condone the imprisonment of a person without trial,” Shidhatha said. According to the former deputy gender minister, the diplomats also raised concerns over the worsening human rights situation in the Maldives and imprisonment several political leaders. Adhaalath president Imran faces terrorism charges for inciting violence during an opposition rally on May Day. He has been placed under house arrest until the end of his trial, which resumed in early October after a long hiatus. The prosecution had claimed that the violence which occurred during the protests were the result of the “hate speeches” made by opposition leaders, including Imran. Imran was also accused of directly threatening President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom during the speech. Other political figures currently serving prison sentences include former President Mohamed Nasheed and several prominent political activists. Nasheed was jailed for 13 years in March on terror charges related to the arrest of chief criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed when he was still president in 2012. Mohamed Nazim, who had served as the defence minister under former President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik and incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, is serving an 11-year prison sentence for smuggling and possessing dangerous weapons. Another former defence minister, Tholhath Ibrahim is serving 10 years for the arbitrary arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Criminal Judge Abdulla Mohamed while he was defence minister in 2012 under then President Mohamed Nasheed. Former Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim, who had served as the deputy speaker during the previous parliament, is serving 25 years after being convicted of graft. During the press conference Monday afternoon, Shidhaatha stressed that the foreign policy of the government should benefit the entire nation. Adhaalath would support such a policy, she added. Early last month, Adhaalath went through an unexpected shakeup at its leadership with the party appointing a new vice president. Haveeru understands that the party’s council had appointed its spokesperson Ali Zahir as the vice president. The appointment reportedly came after the resignation of Dr Mauroof Hussein from the vice president’s post. Adhaalath confirmed the shakeup, but did not give details.