'Does the law only cover requirements of candidates?', lawyer Hisaan responds to the government

Former President Mohamed Nasheed's lawyer Hisaan Hussain has responded to the government's announcements about President Nasheed's incapacity to run for Presidential Elections this year, by rhetorically asking whether the law only mentions requirements of presidential candidates.

While speaking at President Nasheed's campaign ceremony in Baa Thulhaadhoo, Hisaan described the allegations against the former President as unjust and stated that the accusations that were made without any legitimate basis infringed on President Nasheed's rights. Furthermore, in reference to the government's statements on President Nasheed's incapacity to run for presidency, the prominent lawyer said that the requirements of a presidential candidate is not the only thing in our constitution.

'The government is saying that (President Nasheed) cannot contest in the elections while ignoring citizen's right to a just trial, right to political acitivity, right to vote and the right to assembly, Does the constitution only mention the requisits of a presidential candidate? Are the rights provided under 'Dhevana Baabu' (second section) non-existent? Did they disappear before our eyes?', said President Nasheed's lawyer Hisaan.

Hisaan highlighted Maldivian government's response when UN Working Group found the detention of President Nasheed in violation of international law, saying that the working group's decision is not something the Maldives has to follow and declared that the government will be following Supreme Court rulings instead. She added that the bigger picture became clear once President Yameen later failed to implement the well respected Supreme Court rulings as well as UN Human Rights Commission's order to release the former President immediately.

'When you look at the big picture it becomes clear that President Yameen only wants to act according his conclusions and things he agrees with. If it is a person he does not approve of, they aren't even suppose to exist or have the right to live freely', Hisaan stated.

At the campaign ceremony in Thulhaadhoo, Hisaan Hussain described President Nasheed as the man who introduced social allowances and health insurance amongst other social securities. Furthermore, in support of President Nasheed's campaign slogan 'Jazeera Raee's or island president, Hisaan said that the general public of Maldives does not want the current government to destroy the naturality of the tropical islands through infrastructure projects.

'The Maldivian public does not want a centralized form of development where everyone lives in cramped spaces with no personal space. We want to see people live in peace in their respective islands with all the necessary facilities and opportunities within reach. The next Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) administration hopes to achieve that', Hisaan added.