South Galolhu constituency MP Ahmed Mahloof has received the Parliamentarians for Global Action’s (PGA) Defender of Democracy Award.
Mahloof was conferred with the award while in Kiev, Ukraine, attending PGA’s 40th annual meeting, which was held in conjunction with the 10th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians on the International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law.
I share this Award with my courageous wife @Nazunaseem & Elly. With my Parents, Maldivians who lost their lives during the struggle, those who spent days,weeks,months & years in jail. And with every Maldivian who fought to defend Democracy, Human Rights & Rule of Law in Maldives. pic.twitter.com/V8pzNYUC4q
— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) November 16, 2018
According to the PGA, the award is conferred ‘to individuals who, through their own commitment and active engagement, have made significant progress in strengthening democracy and democratic practices’.
Mahloof has been an immensely vocal critic of President Abdulla Yameen’s government and the several allegations of corruption against it.
The independent lawmaker, who was elected on a ticket from Yameen’s party, signed on with the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party recently. As spokesperson to the party and its coalition partners, Mahloof has become a key figure of the alliance.
Mahloof has also been named a ‘prisoner of conscience’ by Amnesty International, while he was in prison for charges of obstructing police duty.
