Detained Yemeni national admitted at IGMH following health complications

Yaser Yahya Saleh, a Yemeni national arrested over terrorism allegations, has been admitted at hospital following health issues.

Media officer at the Maldives Correctional Services (MSC) confirmed this to RaajjeMV.

He said that Yahya was transferred to Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in the capital on Tuesday evening, and is admitted at the emergency ward. The official did not disclose any further information.

Yahya had previously been treated at the Hulhumalé Hospital as well.

Yaser Yahya, married to a local woman, was arrested over terrorism allegations in March 2017. Employed as a teacher at both Ahmadhiyya School and Al-Arabiyya, he was arrested days prior to a scheduled visit by the Saudi King, which was later cancelled.

The court order authorizing his arrest, based entirely on a police intelligence report, described him as a suspect in recruiting locals to an international terrorist militia.

In January 2019, Home Minister Imran Abdulla described that case against Yahya as a “serious” one. However, he did not reveal any additional details claiming that it could threaten public peace and security.

While authorities had attempted to deport Yahya, he has been refusing to cooperate with authorities.

In a statement released in August 2019, Yahya’s family accused authorities of negligence and inhumane treatment. He had gone on a hunger strike in June that year.

Noting that the strike had caused his health to deteriorate, the family claimed that authorities had not made any attempts to resolve the matter.