The involvement of a Special Rapporteur of the UN in a case of UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is a conflicting matter، says Toby Cadman.
Cadman، as a senior consultant to the government of Maldives under Omnia Strategy partnership، made the statement at a press conference in Geneva following Government’s submission of its response on former President Mohamed Nasheed’s case at UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention، as Ben Emmerson، the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter Terrorism and Human Rights، is included in Nasheed’s international legal team.
He said Emmerson’s involvement compromises the independence of the UN Working Group، with regards to his position in UN، adding that the matter has been notified to the working group.
Furthermore، the government requested the Emmerson to withdraw from the case in the interest of the transparency of the case.
In addition، the government stated that it hopes the working group would consider the legal evidences، not what has been told on the Media، before resolving a verdict in the case.
Ben Emmerson is in the legal team of former President Mohamed Nasheed، who has been sentenced to 13 years in prison on terrorism charges following the kidnapping of the sitting chief justice of Criminal Court Abdulla ‘Gaazee’ Mohamed in 2012.
In addition to Emmerson، Amal Clooney and Jared Genser are in Nasheed’s legal team.
The case of Nasheed was filed by his wife، former first lady (Madam) Laila Ali، in United Nation’s Working Group On Arbitrary Detention. Maldives submitted its response to the case on Friday، prior to the press conference held in Geneva.
Maldives’ team was lead by the Ambassador of Maldives to the EU، Ahmed Shian، along with Toby Cadman، consultant at Omnia Strategy partner.