#176. Ahmed Hussein Mohamed (Alias: Nastaa Waheed)
Age:
Profile: Activist of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)
Allegations of maltreatment:
Date of Arrest: 4 July 2005
Status: Arrested for printing political banners. Released on date of arrest.
Charge:
Ref:
http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/individuals/177Mughny.htm
http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/individuals/178AdamAli.htm
http://www.maldiviandetainees.net/individuals/179Zubeir.htm
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21 November 2005
Detainee reported the police arrested him on 12 October 2005 and released him on
24 October 2005.
Detainee reported he received a chit from the police on 12 October 2005
summoning him to Male' police headquarters. Detainee reported he accordingly
attended the police headquarters around 16:30.
Detainee reported the police arrested him and then transported him to Dhoonidhoo
Island Detention Center by boat. Detainee reported the detaining authorities
held him in an open area for a few minutes and took him to the interrogating
room at Dhoonidhoo Island Detention Center. Detainee reported the interrogating
authorities informed him that he had been arrested for allegedly participating
in and financially assisting an unlawful assembly. Detainee reported he informed
the interrogating authorities that he did not participate in any unlawful
assembly and refused to sign a statement pre-prepared by the police.
Detainee reported the detaining authorities held him to a small solitary
confinement cell that lacked ventilation. Detainee reported he developed severe
skin problems due to his poor detention conditions. Detainee reported the toilet
was fetid. Detainee reported the detaining authorities provided him with edible
food and bottled drinking water after he initially refused to eat.
Detainee reported his family retained a lawyer to represent him on 14 October
2005. Detainee reported the interrogating authorities questioned him on 17
October 2005 whether he had given any money to help form the unlawful assembly.
Detainee reported he assured the interrogators that he did not either
participate or fund for any unlawful assembly. Detainee reported the
interrogator informed him that although there was no evidence against him there
were orders to arrest him. Detainee reported his lawyer accompanied him during
the questioning. Detainee reported he again refused to sign a statement
pre-prepared by the police.
Detainee reported the police did not allow him out of the cell despite numerous
requests. Detainee reported his family wrote to the detaining authorities
requesting access to him on dates he cannot recall, but that the police refused
to grant his family access to him. Detainee reported third parties told him that
although he requested the detaining authorities to inform his family to send him
toiletries on 12 October the family received the request only on 27 October
2005, three days after his release.
Detainee reported the police released him without charge on 24 October 2005.
Detainee reported that the police warned him not to get involved in “such acts”
in the future. Detainee reported he signed a statement to that effect. Detainee
reported the police transported him to Male’ police headquarters and released
him.
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7 July 2005
Detainee reported he was arrested at 1.30 am on 6 July 2005 from his home while he was asleep. Detainee reported that the arresting officers did not ask for permission for entering his house, nor did they present a warrant for arrest. Detainee reported he was first taken to his Cafe', on a floor above his house, and reported the whole place was filled with policemen. Detainee also reports that a number of banners he had been involved in printing in the Cafe were missing when he came down with the police; banners he had left there only hours before he went upstairs for the night.
Detainee reported he was taken to the Male Police Headquarters, and kept sitting in the same chair until his release around 3.30pm on 6 July, some 14 hours later. Detainee reported he was deprived of sleep.
Detainee reported the police questioned him on:
a. Was detainee involved in the printing of banners
b. What did the banners say
c. Who gave detainee the order to print these banners?
Detainee reported that he gave statement to the police stating that the banners he was printing called for the resignation of the current two members of the Majlis representing detainee's constituency (Gaf Daal Atoll) as well as the resignation of the 2 member for the Special Majlis of the same constituency, and more banners in support of the opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Detainee also stated that he was printing the banners on his own initiative, and not through orders from anyone else. Detainee also stated that he was priming these banners as he believes the Majlis members for whose resignation he is calling are corrupt as well as working against the citizens of the constituency they represent. And that being an ardent human rights activist, he feels there is a need to demand the resignation of these Majlis members. Detainee also reports that in his statement he gave to the Police he stated that he had every intention of submitting the material to the Ministry of Home Affairs, and upon permission will display the banners outside for all to see.
Detainee reported he was released around 3.30pm, and also that he still has not been informed of reason for arrest. Detainee complains of the sleep deprivation he suffered and expresses concern that this has been an arbitrary arrest related to his pro-democracy activates.
Detainee also complains that the banners and other material confiscated from his Cafe were taken without his knowledge, without a warrant and can only therefore count as theft.
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