Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has forwarded 16 letters to the committee on human rights and gender, all from convicts.

The former president announced this during Wednesday’s parliament sitting, adding that these are 16 letters he received within the last three months.

Noting that these letters are filled with their concerns and issues, Nasheed said that he “can only forward such letters to the relevant authorities.” He added that instead of sending the letters one by one, he had opted to collect a few first.

Nasheed said that his summary of the letters has also been sent to the committee.

The current administration came into power with a number of promises, an improving the conditions and ensuring the rights of convicts is one of the key ones.

An audit of the prisons was completed within the first 100 days after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih assumed office.

The report compiled after the prisons’ audit revealed existence of corruption and abuse, while overcrowding and lack of proper medical facilities were also noted.

Home Minister Imran Abdulla has called on the Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) to follow the recommendations in the report; the 390-page contains 180 recommendations.