AP leader Sheikh Imran's appeal hearing, cancelled

The High Court has on Wednesday cancelled a hearing on Adhaalath Party (AP) leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla’s appeal of a 12-year prison sentence against him.

Sheikh Imran’s lawyer, AP’s deputy leader Ali Zahir, said the High Court had not given a reason for cancelling the hearing.

“We got a phone call from the court informing us of the cancellation” Zahir said “We were given no reason as to why”.

Imran was accused and convicted of terrorism, for having been one of the leaders in a large opposition rally on the 1st of May, 2015. His words had incited violence, prosecutors said.

Hearings for the appeal have been previously held, the most recent was in April of last year. The bench of judges presiding over his case had also seen some changes, with Judge Shujau Usman being transferred to the High Court’s southern branch.

Sheikh Imran was moved to house arrest to conduct renovation work on the prison building where he was held.