Hisaan barred from entering courthouse for Qasim’s trial

Lawyers Hisaan Hussain and Abdulla Shafeeq have been barred from entering the Criminal Court courthouse for the trial of Leader of Jumhoory Party, Maamingili MP Qasim Ibrahim.

Hisaan – who is also the lawyer for Deputy Leader of JP, MP Abdulla Riyaz - said she was informed by Criminal Court this Thursday that she cannot enter the courthouse for either Qasim’s or Riyaz’s trial.

She said Criminal Court said the reason for the ban was comments they made which created a negative image regarding the court.

“They said I commented during the press conference that the court issues an order called “vaanuvaa” [confusion]. Said the comments I made regarding that created a negative image of the court,” said Hisaan.

During the press conference last Wednesday, Hisaan said she expected Qasim would be kept under arrest until the end of his trial.

“We expect Qasim Ibrahim will be kept under arrest until the end of the trial. Allah knows when the trial will end. So we will call it “vaanuvaa,”” said Hisaan during the press conference.

The decision of Criminal Court to bar Hisaan and Shafeeq from the courthouse means only one of Qasim’s lawyers – Ahmed Masthoor will be allowed into the courthouse for the hearing scheduled for 11:30 am, this Thursday.