Mahloof placed in solitary, privileges slashed, citing his statements as a “national security threat”

Privileges granted to Member of Parliament for Galolhu South Constituency Ahmed Mahloof, now serving a jail term in Maafushi jail, has been slashed, citing that he had talked in a manner that posed threats to national security.

Mahloof’s wife Nazra Naseem had confirmed this, adding that his privileges had been slashed for a month. As such, Mahloof has been deprived from phone calls, confidential meetings and family meetings, as reported by Nazra.

Media official at Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) said that Mahloof’s privileges were slashed under the same procedures applicable for inmates who flout rules and regulations. He had also confirmed that the privileges were slashed for the Parliamentarian. However, he denied that Mahloof had been placed in solitary.

The media official had refused to specify which rules Mahloof had flouted and details of the penalties in place.

While new penalties have been enforced on the Parliamentarian, he has not been able to meet his lawyer in the past two months. Both his family and lawyer have expressed concern over this. The Parliamentarian had begun a hunger strike over the conditions in jail.

Mahloof was sentenced for a total of 10 months and 24 days on two charges of obstruction of Police duties. Out of this, he had already served the six-month sentence. He is now serving the four month 24-day sentence. He will be released in June. While his release is imminent, his appeal is still unprocessed and stalled in the judicial system.