Joint Opposition meets with EU Ambassadors, shares concerns reg. call for religious freedom

Senior officials of the Maldives Joint Opposition met with the delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and Maldives on Wednesday, and shared their concerns over its call for religious freedom in the Maldives.

An EU Electoral Follow-Up Mission (EU EFM) had, in their March 2018 report, recommended to revise Articles 9 and 73 of the Constitution so as to allow non-Muslims to vote and stand for office. A senior official from the Joint Opposition said that they had shared their concerns regarding the recommended reforms, but did not disclose further on the matter.

The team also updated the Ambassadors on the country’s political situation, and shared their concerns over the continued incarceration and persecution of opposition leaders, lawmakers and supporters.

The Joint Opposition also noted that the ‘independence and integrity of all institutions have been compromised’, adding that ‘one of the aftermaths is the Supreme Court’s validation of the anti-defection law’.

Opposition leader and former president, Mohamed Nasheed also took part in the meeting, as well as representatives from all parties in the opposition coalition. The self-exiled former president returned to Sri Lanka on Sunday; he has been granted political asylum in the United Kingdom after being sentenced to 13 years on terror charges.