Abdulla Alexander

#145 Abdulla Alexander

Date of Birth:

Profile: Detainee was actively involved in the cleaning, collecting aid material, work in the relief centre and travel to the atolls for aid distribution in Maldives following the tsunami on 26 December 2004.

Allegations of maltreatment: Detainee was refused proper medical treatment after being diagnosed with stones in the gall bladder while imprisoned. Detainee was also refused bottled drinking water after doctors prescribed it to detainee.

Date of Arrest: 2 October 2005

Status: Sentenced to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism on 2 October 2005 in connection to the demonstrations following the custodial killing of five prisoners on 20 September 2003.

Charge: Terrorism

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4 October 2007

Acquaintance of detainee reported detainee was arrested from a building owned by Captital Travels Pvt. Ltd. in Male' on a date in September 2007 which acquaintance of detainee could not recall.

Acquaintance of detainee reported detainee contacted her by telephone within twenty-four hours of his arrest and informed her that police had arrested him under suspicion of having committed a robbery and that police had detained him at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center where he remains at present.

Acquaintance of detainee reported police have not allowed detainee to make any further telephone calls apart from the above mentioned telephone call he made after he had been arrested.

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26 March 2007

Detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced him to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism on 2 October 2005 in connection to the demonstrations on 20 September 2003 following the custodial killing of five prisoners.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities transported him to IGM Hospital and granted him access to an orthopedic doctor on 11 March 2007. Detainee reported the doctor recommended him physiotherapy.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities transferred him under house arrest as detainee has to attend hospital quite frequently for physiotherapy on the same day. Detainee reported the detaining authorities are disorganized and do not come to pick him up on time to transfer him to the hospital.

Detainee is in good spirits to be back with family and friends in Male’.

Guardian of detainee reported she wrote a letter to the President on 2 August 2006 following the Presidential Pardon of Ms Jennifer Latheef, who had been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for the same charge for the same act. Guardian of detainee reported she requested the President he also pardons the detainee in fairness to the Islamic laws. Guardian of detainee reported she requested the President that the state arrange for the treatment of psychological harm faced by the detainee during detention.

Guardian of detainee reported she received a reply from the President’s office during the second week of August 2006. Guardian of detainee reported the letter informed her that the president could not pardon detainee or reconsider detainee’s sentence due to the special circumstances surrounding detainee’s imprisonment. Guardian of detainee reported the letter also said that usually detainees are released for rehabilitation and that the state would reconsider the detainee’s sentence based on the results from the rehabilitation center.

Guardian of detainee expressed concern as the letter had specifically not said that the state would release detainee for rehabilitation. Guardian of detainee reported they are looking into arranging rehabilitation for the detainee.

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30 August 2006

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20 August 2006

19 July 2006

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced the detainee to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism on 2 October 2005 in connection to the demonstrations on 20 September 2003 following the custodial killing of five prisoners.

Guardian of detainee reported the detainee informed her that the detaining authorities hold him in cell A2. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that he requested the detaining authorities to transfer him to cell A1 but the detaining authorities informed him that they would transfer him on an unspecified future date. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee informed her that he moved to cell A1 as he does not want to commit disciplinary offences with the other detainees at cell A2. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that the detaining authorities ordered him to move back to cell A2, which was to climb over the cell wall. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that he explained to the detaining authorities that he moved to cell A2 as he does not want to get punished for misconduct and that he would move back to his cell when the authorities allow him to walk through the gate. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that he remained at cell A1 despite the authorities threatening him to hold him in isolation, because the detaining authorities refused to allow him to walk through the gate as he requested.

Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that he met with the Deputy Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry, Ms Azima Shukoor at Maafushi jail and requested her to transfer him to A1 cell. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that the deputy director informed him she would make the arrangements to transfer him. Guardian of detainee reported she telephoned the deputy director of legal affairs on June 2006 and enquired about the detainee’s transfer to A1 cell and the deputy director of legal affairs informed her that arrangements would be made. Guardian of detainee reported the deputy director did not answer her mobile phone when she telephoned her as to enquire more about the transfer. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities brought the detainee to IGM Hospital and provided the detainee with medical assistance in June 2006.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities transported the detainee to Male' for family access on 20 June 2006. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities held the detainee under house arrest and transported the detainee back to Maafushi prison on 25 June 2006.

Guardian of detainee reported the detainee telephoned her on the first week of July 2006 and informed her that the detaining authorities hold him in solitary confinement in a high security cell. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that he wears a jail uniform at the cell and that the detaining authorities did not allow him to walk out of the cell.

Guardian of detainee expressed concern as the detainee remains in cell A1, when the deputy director informed the detainee that she would transfer the detainee from the cell.

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4 May 2006

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced the detainee to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism on 2 October 2005 in connection to the demonstrations on 20 September 2003 following the custodial killing of five prisoners.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities informed the detainee that they will grant access to detainee’s family on an unspecified future. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities transported the detainee to Male' and provided him with medical assistance at IGM Hospital on 01 May 2006.

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17 April 2006

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced the detainee to eleven years imprisonment for terrorism on 2 October 2005 in connection to the demonstrations on 20 September 2003 following the custodial killing of five prisoners.

Guardian of detainee reported the detainee wrote a letter to the detaining authorities on 6 April 2006 requesting access to his family. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee informed her that he has not yet received any reply to his letter.

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20 March 2006

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced detainee to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism in connection to the demonstrations on 20 September 2003 following the custodial killing of five prisoners.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities transferred the detainee to IGM Hospital and provided the detainee with medical assistance on 15 March 2006.

Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that the detaining authorities transferred him to a different cell. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that the detaining authorities broke his cupboard in the cell and took the CD player during a raid in February 2006. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that he complained to the detaining authorities about the missing items explaining that the items were brought into the cell with the permission of the detaining authorities. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee told her that the detaining authorities assured him they would return the items in an unspecified future.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities transferred the detainee back to Maafushi Island prison on the same day.

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2 March 2006

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities brought the detainee to IGM Hospital on 21 February 2006 for physiotherapy treatment. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities transferred detainee to Male’ police headquarters under the detainee’s therapist’s recommendation.

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7 February 2006

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced the detainee on 2 October 2005 to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism as a result of the detainee’s participation in the street demonstrations on 20 September 2003 following the custodial killing of five prisoners.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities took the detainee to hospital on 2 February 2006 for a medical check-up. Guardian of detainee reported the specialist at hospital referred the detainee to an orthopedic specialist.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities took the detainee to the hospital again on 4 February 2006 as the detainee suffered from severe abdominal pains. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities transported the detainee back to Maafushi Island prison after his medical consultation.

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31 January 2006

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities took him to hospital on 25 January 2006 for an x-ray as he was diagnosed stones in his gall bladder. Guardian of detainee reported the doctor referred him for a further medical examination after one week.

Guardian of detainee reported that the detaining authorities have not yet brought the detainee for further medical examination. Guardian of detainee expressed her deep concern at the denial of medical treatment and the mental welfare of the detainee.

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23 January 2006

Guardian of detainee reported detainee remains imprisoned in Maafushi jail since the Criminal Court sentenced him to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism on 2 October 2005.

Guardian of detainee reported the detainee continues to suffer severe bladder problems due to previously diagnosed stones and that the doctors recommended urgent treatment. Guardian of detainee expressed deep concern about the detainee's rapidly deteriorating health due to the fact that the detaining authorities are refusing to provide the detainee with the necessary medical facilities.

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21 January 2006

Guardian of detainee reported detainee remains imprisoned in Maafushi jail since the Criminal Court sentenced him to eleven years imprisonment under terrorism on 2 October 2005.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities took him to the hospital on 12 January 2006 to consult a specialist doctor. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee continues to suffer severe bladder problems due to previously diagnosed stones and that the doctors recommended urgent treatment.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities have not yet provided the detainee with medical assistance since 12 January 2006.

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4 January 2006

Guardian of detainee reported third parties have informed her that the detaining authorities are presently holding the detainee at Male' police headquarters.

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25 December 2005

Guardian of detainee reported that the detaining authorities transferred the detainee to Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center during the last week.

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6 December 2005

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced the detainee to eleven years imprisonment for terrorism on 2 October 2005 in connection to the demonstrations following the custodial killing of five prisoners on 20 September 2003.

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court informed the family of detainee that they should make a written request to apply for an appeal against the detainee’s conviction for terrorism. Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court also informed her that a consent letter from a person from detainee’s family should be sent to the Criminal Court who would be given power of attorney to act on behalf of the detainee.

Guardian of detainee expressed her view that the court is attempting to deliberately delay the detainee’s appeal to the High Court.

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29 November 2005

Guardian of detainee reported the detainee’s family has appealed detainee’s case to the High Court on 19 November 2005. Guardian of detainee reported detainee had been sentenced to eleven years imprisonment for terrorism on 2 October 2005 as a result of his participation in the riots following the custodial killing of five prisoners in September 2003.

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17 November 2005

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court provided her on 16 November 2005 with a copy of the written judgment sentencing the detainee to eleven years imprisonment for terrorism in October 2005. Guardian of detainee reported the Attorney General’s Office charged the detainee for acts committed in the demonstrations that followed the custodial killing of five prisoners. Guardian of detainee reported the judgment was over one thousand pages long.

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11 November 2005

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court has not provided a written judgment for detainee who was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment on 2 October 2005 in connection to the demonstrations of 20 September 2003 following the custodial killing of five prisoners.

Detainee reported he holds Dutch citizenship. Detainee reported his Dutch passport remains at the Dutch Embassy in Sri Lanka from the time it was sent for renewal. Detainee reported that he has been unable to collect the passport because the Maldivian government has refused to allow him to travel out of the country. Detainee reported he unsuccessfully tried to contact the Dutch Consular Services twice before he was sentenced in 2 October 2005.

Detainee reported the Dutch Consular Services had asked him to provide a detailed account of his circumstances since he returned to the Maldives. Detainee reported he had prepared a report for the Dutch Consular Services in November 2005 which he had given to a friend to take the Dutch Embassy.

Detainee reported the detaining authorities brought him to the hospital on 10 November 2005 for an appointment with a Urologist. Detainee reported the detaining authorities had however neglected to make an appointment with the appropriate doctor and the detaining authorities then ordered the detainee to return to Maafushi prison until 15 November 2005 despite the fact his medical condition had severely deteriorated.

Detainee reported he refused to return to Maafushi prison without proper medication because he was experiencing severe pain, burning sensations and discoloured urine. Detainee reported the detaining authorities allowed him to stay in a prison facility in Male’ until the following day. Detainee reported the doctor had referred him to a radiologist and requested him to return on 15 November 2005. Detainee reported he was uncertain whether he would be returned Maafushi prison and whether the detaining authorities would permit him to attend the hospital on 15 November 2005.

Detainee reported his illness may have been induced by the fact the water in the prison is polluted and not fit for human consumption. Detainee reported the food provided by the detaining authorities during Ramadan was inedible. Detainee reported the detaining authorities denied the prisoners daily exercise and denied the female prisoner any form of exercise. Detainee reported there is only one duty doctor for two hundred prisoners in Maafushi prison and that on many days no doctor was available.

Detainee reported the food had improved since the Ramadan and is now edible although it is not varied or nutritionally balanced. Detainee reported the toilets in the prison are usable. Detainee reported that he has not witnessed the detaining authorities beating any of the prisoners. Detainee reported the detaining authorities provide him with reading and writing materials as well as basic education. Detainee reported that most of the detainees however required more advanced education.

Detainee reported he was unable to communicate with senior officials in the prison although certain prisoners appear to have easy and regular access to whomever they wish.

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7 November 2005

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court has not provided the detainee's written judgment. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee was sentenced for eleven years imprisonment by the Criminal Court on 2 October 2005 for participation in the demonstration following the custodial killing of five prisoners in September 2003.

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court asked her to collect a reply provided by the Minister of Justice on 2 November 2005 in response to her letter dated 23 October 2005 requesting the detainee’s written judgment. Guardian of detainee reported she waited at the Criminal Court until the office was about to close and that the court officials informed her that a reply would be ready on 6 November 2005.

Guardian of detainee reported the reply from the Minister of Justice received on the 6 November 2005 stated that the judgment is delayed because the judgment was very long. Guardian of detainee reported the letter also said that the Criminal Court would work to try and finish the report by 10 November 2005.

Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities brought detainee to the hospital on 3 November 2005. Guardian of detainee reported detainee had told her at the hospital that he had been very ill and that he had suffered severe abdominal pains for three days. Guardian of detainee reported detainee said the detaining authorities had refused to bring the detainee to the hospital and kept him in Maafushi prison for three days on Voltaren injections and IV fluids.

Guardian of detainee reported the doctors at the hospital tested the detainee and the tests teh detainee had bladder stones. Guardian of detainee reported the duty doctor had referred detainee to a Urologist. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities transferred the detainee back to Maafuishi prison because they said there were no specialists on duty.

Guardian of detainee reported she telephoned the detaining authorities on 6 November 2005 and told them that a Urologist was on duty at the hospital on 7 November 2005. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities had replied that hospital transfers for male prisoners were only scheduled for Thursdays. Guardian of detainee expressed concern that the detaining authorities may be un-necessarily prolonging the agony of the detainee and inflicting a cruel form of detention by denying quick access to appropriate medication.

Guardian of detainee reported third parties told her that it is normal for the detaining authorities to take detainees back to the Maafushi prison for administrative procedures before transferring them to house arrest even if a detainee has undergone surgery and requires bed rest. Guardian of detainee expressed distress over the medical condition of detainee.

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1 November 2005

Guardian of detainee reported she telephoned the Criminal Court several times requesting a reply to her letter to the Minister of Justice dated 23 October 2005. Guardian of detainee reported the court officials informed her that the Minister was out of office when she telephoned the court on 30 October 2005.

Guardian of detainee expressed her view that the Criminal Court was trying to delay the process of detainee's appeal to the High Court by withholding the written verdict which the defense would require to submit an appeal.

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26 October 2005

Guardian of detainee reported detainee was sentenced in connection to the popular street demonstrations of 20 September 2003 following the custodial killings of five prisoners. Guardian of detainee reported she called the Criminal Courts enquiring a status of the written verdict of detainee on 24 October 2005. Guardian of detainee reported the court officials told her that the written verdict had not been completed.

Guardian of detainee reported she has written to the Minister of Justice requesting that the process of preparing a written verdict for the detainee is expedited so that the family of detainee can prepare for an appeal to the High Court as soon as possible. Guardian of detainee reported she also said in her letter to the Minister of Justice that more than three weeks had already elapsed since the Court had sentenced the detainee to imprisonment.

Guardian of detainee reported detainee holds a Dutch passport since father of detainee had migrated to Holland when the detainee was one-year old. Guardian of detainee reported detainee was twelve-years of age when he came back to the Maldives. Guardian of detainee reported the detaining authorities had prepared a Maldivian identity card for detainee following his arrest in 2003.

Guardian of detainee reported detainee was sentenced for eleven years imprisonment under article 6(b) with reference to article 2(f) and (g) of the anti-terrorism law, on 2 October 2005.

Article 6(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Whoever commits an act of terrorism which does not involve the death of any person shall be punishable with imprisonment of banishment for a term not less than ten years but not exceeding fifteen years. The punishment of any person found to have participated in the commission or planning of such an act shall also be the same. Any person found to have aided or abetted in the commission of the crime or concealed information relating to the crime shall be punishable by imprisonment or banishment for a term not less than three years but not exceeding seven years.

Article 2(f) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

The setting on fire, or the causing of damage, or the attempt to do the same, to the property of any person or persons in any way that may harm life, people or property;

Article 2(g) of the Anti-Terrorism Law of Maldives states:

Any act or the attempt to commit an act that may instill fear among the people or threaten life, person or property of any person verbally or in writing.

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17 October 2005

Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Court sentenced the detainee to eleven years imprisonment on 2 October 2005. Guardian of detainee reported the detainee was sentenced under the anti-terrorism act in connection to the popular demonstration of 20 September 2003, which was in response to the custodial murder of five people by the prison authorities.

Guardian of detainee reported she has requested the Criminal Court to provide the written judgment so that she can lodge an appeal with the High Court, which operates under the President’s Office. Guardian of detainee reported that an appeal has to be made within ninety days of sentencing and more than fifteen days had already passed. Guardian of detainee reported the Criminal Courts claimed the report has still not been prepared but had been told by court officials that the judgments were ordinarily made available in seven days.

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2 October 2005

Acquaintance of detainee reported that detainee was sentenced on 2 October 2005 to eleven years in prison following his conviction for terrorism charges for 20 September 2003 demonstrations.

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21 February 2005

Detainee (age 24), who has Dutch citizenship, appeals to the Dutch Government to intervene on his behalf to urge the Maldivian Government to drop the charges of terrorism (charged on February 2004) pressed against him because of his alleged involvement in the 20 September 2003 riots that occurred in Male’ following the killing of prisoner Hassan Evan Naseem by the National Security Service in Maafushi Prison.

Detainee, who was not implicated in the August 2004 demonstration, reported that he believed the trial of the alleged perpetuators of the riot was not conducted with due process of law and that he had compelling evidence to maintain that he would not receive a fair trial.

Detainee reported that from the onset of the trail the authorities had conducted it unfairly. Detainee reported that he had identified the following transgressions from due process of law which the State had deliberately refused to rectify.

1. That the riots occurred due to the killing of 6 prison inmates by the security forces. That sentiments were very high in Male’ on the day of the riot. That given the circumstances it was wrong for the State to charge people for terrorism for a spontaneous reaction against the authorities that occurred due to a reasonable cause.

2. That only 6 people were charged following the riot out of a crowd of hundreds and that the detainee believed the defendants were hand-picked by the authorities for political reasons. Out of the six defendants, one was the daughter of spokesman of the Maldivian opposition party (MDP) which had not been allowed to function in the Maldives. That one of the defendants was the son of the President’s brother-in-law who was allowed to leave the country on medical grounds so that he could flee from the trial.

3. That top government officials, including the top officials of the National Security Service and the police have not been summoned to court to explain why 6 prison inmates were brutally killed by the authorities.

Detainee reported that he had been in and out of prison since the age of 12 and had been brutally maltreated by the Maldivian authorities. Detainee reported that the Dutch Government had so far ignored the plight of the detainee even when international bodies such as Amnesty International had declared that “Fundamental flaws in the criminal justice system were partially addressed” by the government (Amnesty International Country Report for Maldives 2004).

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