Maldives Opposition Seeks International Support for Incarcerated President

Leaders of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), along with other party members, met with the British High Commissioner in Maldives to discuss the incarceration of former President Abdulla Yameen. The opposition party is seeking support from various diplomats and international organizations to draw attention to what they believe is a politically motivated verdict against Yameen.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, MP Mohammed Saeed, the Vice President of the People's National Congress, stated that the opposition has been sharing details of the government's treatment of Yameen with foreign diplomats. "Foreign observers are of the belief that the verdict against President Yameen was politically motivated," said Saeed. He went on to say that the government must not assume that the international community will turn a blind eye to the government's actions.

MP Ahmed Shiyam, the Vice President of PPM, who also attended the meeting, stated that the party will explore all avenues to secure Yameen's release and to ensure that he can contest in the upcoming 2023 presidential election. Yameen is the presidential candidate of the opposition PPM.

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison last month by the Criminal Court on charges of money laundering. However, many observers believe that the charges against him were politically motivated and a way for the government to eliminate a strong political rival.

The meeting with the British High Commissioner is just one of many efforts made by the opposition party to garner international support for Yameen's release. The situation in Maldives has drawn attention from human rights organizations and other countries, with calls for a fair and transparent legal process.