President Nasheed gains asylum in UK

Former President Mohamed Nasheed, who was serving 13 years in prison on charges of terrorism, has received asylum from the UK.

Lawyer of the former President, Hassan Latheef told Sun Media today that President Nasheed received political asylum in the UK as a Political Refugee.

Political Refugee Status is the protection given under the UN regulations to those who have been forced to flee from a homeland due to political persecution.

Hassan Latheef said that there is no longer any purpose of the Maldivian government working to bring the Ex-President back to the country.

President Nasheed initially left to the UK from Colombo on 21 January 2016. While the medical leave of President Nasheed has been extended by 30 days on 17 April.

But the 30-day extension was then revoked on 18 April. Since then the Home Minister Umar Naseer has made a request to review the retraction of the extension of 30 days. And the Medical Board of the Maldives Correctional Service reviewed the decision and passed to grant the 30-day extension on 4 May.

Former President made another request today at the Maldives Correctional Service for another extension on his medical visit in UK.