A number of parliamentarians aligned with outgoing President Abdulla Yameen signed the motion to free former President Mohamed Nasheed.
The motion was filed at the People’s Majlis on Wednesday, with 49 signatures.
A total of 12 lawmakers from the outgoing president’s side signed the motion, they are:
- Faresmaathodaa constituency MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef
- Madaveli constituency MP Muaz Mohamed Rasheed
- Bilehdhoo constituency MP Ahmed Mubeen
- Baarah constituency MP Ibrahim Sujau
- Velidhoo constituency MP Abdulla Yameen
- Isdhoo constituency MP Ahmed Rasheed Ibrahim
- Thulhaadhoo constituency MP Nazim Rashad
- Vilufushi constituency MP Riyaz Rasheed
- Eydhafudhi constituency MP Ahmed Saleem
- Gahdhoo constituency MP Ahmed Rasheed
- Maavah constituency MP Ahmed Azhan Fahmy
- Guraidhoo constituency MP Hussain Manik Dhon Manik
Nasheed has since, via twitter, thanked the lawmakers that signed the motion for his release.
While the former president was convicted of terrorism and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in March 2015, the motion notes that conviction was politically motivated and violated international treaties the Maldives is party to.
It further called for his immediate release.
Nasheed was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom in 2016. He was allowed to travel there for medical purposes.
Following the Joint Opposition’s Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s win in September’s presidential election, Nasheed announced that he will return to Maldives ‘come what may’.
