Progress can be made even with political differences: Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that progress can be made even with political differences that are within democratic principles.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Nasheed addressed rumors of a political rift within the opposition coalition by acknowledging the differences between the parties.

In the tweet, Nasheed said that while the parties might want to make legal reformations their own way, these issues can be solved within democratic principles.

Nasheed’s statement comes after supporters of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) became outraged over opposition coalition leader Qasim Ibrahim sharing a former MDP deputy leader’s tweet.

Alhan Fahmy tweeted that a court ruling cannot be overturned outside of the judiciary, adding that leaders should be accountable to the law and that Nasheed is no exception.

Qasim Ibrahim, replying to the public outrage, said that he re-tweeted Alhan Fahmy’s statement because it was true even in the constitutional and religious sense.

Qasim is being criticized by MDP members on social media for defending Alhan Fahmy’s tweet which implies that Nasheed, an escaped prison convict, should be jailed when he returns to the country.

Nasheed has been living in the UK since obtaining political asylum after he left abroad for medical treatment during his imprisonment.

International human rights observers have deemed Nasheed’s prison conviction over terrorism-related as unlawful.

MDP has announced that they are preparing a huge welcome for Nasheed, who is set to return on November 1.