PEN Demonstration for prisoners in Maldives
Published: April 11, 2006
On 10 April, over forty PEN members and friends gathered outside the Maldives High Commission to protest the imprisonment of three writers: Jennifer Latheef, Mohamed Nasheed, and Abdullah Saeed. English PEN organised the demonstration and delivered a letter of appeal to the High Commissioner, urging the release of all writers and journalists detained in violation of their right to freedom of expression - as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The protestors peacefully remained for two hours, holding placards calling for the release of the prisoners and handing out leaflets to members of the public. Among those present was Dr Alastair Niven, President of English PEN, novelist Hari Kunzru, who recently wrote for the Observer on human rights abuses in the Maldives, Carole Seymour-Jones, Chair of the WiPC, journalist and novelist Joan Smith, and PEN’s youngest ever protestor, a baby-friend of Mohamed Nasheed from his days in exile in Britain.
At 1.30pm, Dr Alastair Niven, Hari Kunzru, and Carole Seymour-Jones delivered PEN’s letter of appeal to the High Commissioner, through the locked door of the High Commission.
Passers-by were amazed to read about human rights abuses in the Maldives, since they had only heard of the country’s idyllic coastline. One couple, who have a holiday booked in the Maldives, took the time to stop and read the leaflet and will reconsider their holiday to the country. PEN believes the charges against Latheef, Nasheed and Saaed are transparent attempts to persecute those who are campaigning for democracy in the Maldives. It is even more galling to hear that those accused are being described as terrorists, and that prisoners have reported beatings by officers who arrested them.
The Maldives’ economy is based on positive press and tourism, therefore public opinion can pressure their government into releasing prisoners of conscience. You can help by e-mailing the Maldives High Commission and informing them that you support the PEN campaign for the release of writers and journalists wrongfully imprisoned in their country: maldives.high.commission@virgin.net
