Case reg. continued threats to lawmakers submitted to IPU
The case was submitted by Jumhooree Party's foreign relations committee
A press conference was held on Wednesday, where JP announced it has submitted the case to IPU
Jumhooree Party (JP) has submitted a case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), regarding the continued threats imposed on opposition lawmakers by Maldivian authorities.
The case was submitted by JP’s foreign relations committee.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, JP council member, and former education minister Asim Ahmed revealed that the party has submitted a case regarding the events that took place during the no-confidence vote against speaker Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed on March 27, as well as the violations of parliament regulations and democratic principles; including not allowing media, NGOs and the public from being present in the parliament gallery during the vote.
The letter filed also noted the continued threats imposed on the opposition parliamentarians by authorities.
While the party submitted the case, its leader Qasim Ibrahim is one the lawmakers facing the most pressure, with authorities issuing a travel ban against him this week.
While JP was initially part of the ruling coalition, Qasim came out against the government in March, and has played an active role in trying to pass the no-confidence vote against the speaker, even joining the opposition coalition, agreeing to work together, in the parliament and in the political environment.
Since Qasim officially joined the coalition, criticizing President Abdulla Yameen and his government, court hearings over his Thaa. Elaa contract dispute were reconvened, Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has frozen the bank accounts of Qasim’s company Villa Group, and he has been summoned to the police, twice in one week.
Back in 2015, after Qasim joined the opposition temporarily, authorities decided to freeze Villa Group’s bank accounts.
