#20. Abdul Rasheed Adam
Age:
Profile: Pro-reform activist.
Allegations of maltreatment: No information available
Date
of Arrest:
Status:
Detained in early August 2004 with brother Ahmed Adam for alleged publication of subversive
material. Released following demands made by demonstrators. Re-arrested
following day. Detainee was transferred to house arrest on
Charge: In May 2003, the detainee was charged for treason – “Acts against the State” – under article 29 of the Penal Code, which has a sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. The detainee was also charged for violating the Prevention of Terrorism in the Maldives Act under article 6(b) with reference to articles 2 (a), (d) and (f) and article 3 of the Act. According to detainee these charges were based on confessional statements forcefully taken from detainee by the police under duress.
On
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Brother of detainee reported that detainee was apprehended by the police on
Detainee reported that about eight officers of the Star Force team of the
Maldives Police Services came to the publishing shop in which he worked at
approximately
Detainee reported the detaining authorities did not advise him of the reasons
for his arrest until
Detainee reported that the detaining authorities transported him to Dhoonidhoo
Island Detention Centre on
Detainee reported the same sergeant was also one of his interrogators who
questioned him on whether he had been involved in gatherings and violent
activities during August 2005. Detainee reported he provided a statement saying
he did not participate in any unlawful activities and did not encourage any
form of violence. Detainee reported he was asked to sign a statement of release
on
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Detainee reports that he has still been unable to obtain his
passport from the authorities. Details of his efforts have also been recorded
in his report of
Detainee was arrested in June 2002 and his
passport was confiscated following the arrest.
Detainee was charged in May 2003 for
Treason and under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Detainee claimed these
charges were based on confessional statements extracted from detainee under
heavy duress by the security forces whilst he was kept in Dhoonidhoo for more
than 5 months following his arrest in June 2002.
Detainee reported today that the Maldives
Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has informed him that they had written to the
Department of Immigration and Emigration, inquiring why the detainee’s passport
is being withheld. In response to the query of the MHRC, the Department of
Immigration and Emigration had responded saying that the detainee’s passport is
being withheld under the instruction of the Ministry of Defence
and National Security.
Detainee notes that this is in the light of
that fact that the Maldives Police Services communicating that they had no
documentation saying that they had authorised the
detainee’s passport to be withheld. Detainee also notes that until September
2004 the police were effectively under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defence and National Security and that hence they should be
aware of the authorisation.
The detainee further reports that the MHRC
wrote to the Ministry of Defence and National
Security, referring to the response of the Department of Immigration and
Emigration which stated that the detainee’s passport is being withheld under
the instructions of the Ministry of Defence and National
Security. In the letter, the MHRC also inquired as to the reason why they had
instructed the detainee’s passport to be withheld.
Detainee also reported that the
investigators from the security service of his 2002 case have been sent summons
by the MHRC, but that the Ministry of Defence and
National Security has failed to reply to their communications so far.
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Detainee stated that he has been trying to get back his passport from the authorities since he was released after being detained in association with the demonstration of 12/13 August 2004. His passport was withheld after being arrested in 2002, for alleged involvement in terrorist activities and offences against the state.
He reported that he went to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to collect his passport, but that the officials there informed him that they will not be able to release it without written permission from the Maldives Police Services, since the latter had asked the Department to hold it.
The detainee also reported having visited the Maldives Police Service to ask them to authorize the Department of Immigration and Emigration to release his passport. The response of the Maldives Police Services was that they could not do so because he had been charged for an offence and because his case was at court. Upon being questioned by the detainee why the Police Service was withholding his passport, as opposed to the court, they stated that it is because the court sometimes asks them to ensure attendance of defendants at court. The detainee stated that he has never avoided a court order to attend a hearing and hence, it should not be a problem.
The detainee reported that he wrote to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives regarding the matter and that they had informed him that the Maldives Police Service had responded to them (HRCM) saying that there is no documentation showing that orders were made to withhold the detainees passport.
The detainee has yet been unable to retrieve his passport, and would like to know why, and by whose order his passport is being withheld.
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Detainee, who was released to the confines of the country on 1 January 2005 reported that he wrote to the Criminal Court on 5 January 2004 to expedite his cases pending in the court/police since 2002.
In May 2003, the detainee was
charged for treason – “Acts against the State” – under
article 29 of the Penal Code, which has a sentence of life imprisonment if
convicted.
The detainee was also charged for violating
the Prevention of Terrorism in the Maldives Act under article 6(b) with
reference to articles 2 (a), (d) and (f) and article 3 of the Act.
According to detainee these charges were based
on confessional statements forcefully taken from detainee by the police under
duress.
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29 December 2004 (138th days of detention)
Wife of detainee #9 reported that the detainee was bought before a judge
at the Criminal Court today and that the detainee’s detention was extended to
15 days house arrest by the judge. Detainee was transferred from Dhoonidhoo to
house arrest late evening today.
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24 December
2004 (133rd
day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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23 December
2004 (132nd day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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22 December
2004 (131th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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21 December
2004 (130th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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19 December
2004 (128th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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18 December
2004 (126th
day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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17 December
2004 (126th
day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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16 December
2004 (125th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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15 December
2004 (124th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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13 December
2004 (122nd day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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12 December
2004 (121th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at
Dhoonidhoo.
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11 December
2004 (120th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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10 December
2004 (119th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoon
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09 December
2004 (118th day of detention)
Detainee remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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08 December
2004 (117th day of detention)
Family of detainee is unable to obtain any more information of detainee
who remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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07 December
2004 (116th day of detention)
Family of detainee is unable to obtain any more information of detainee
who remains detained in Dhoonidhoo.
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06 December
2004 (115th day of detention)
Family of detainee is unable to obtain any more news of detainee who
remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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05 December
2004 (113th day of detention)
Family of detainee is unable to obtain any more information of detainee
who remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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04 December
2004 (113th day of detention)
Family of detainee is unable to obtain any more news of detainee who
remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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03 December
2004 (112th
day of detention)
Family of detainee is unable to obtain any more news of detainee who
remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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02 December
2004 (111th day of detention)
Family of detainee is unable to obtain any more information of detainee
who remains in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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01 December
2004 (110th day of detention)
Family of detainee unable to obtain any more news of
detainee who is still being held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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30 November
2004 (109th day of detention)
Brother of detainee reported that detainee was brought late evening of
29 November to the criminal court. Brother of detainee reported that in
considering extension the judge considered the fact that the detainee had a
pending treason case against him. In the deliberations in court the detainee
enquired why they were looking at previous cases when considering detention
extension. Detainee informed the court that if such considerations are made
with regards to cases still without convictions, why was that
the authorities did not cut out the penises of “zina”
(fornication) convicts so that they would not do it again. Detainee’s detention
was extended for 30 more days.
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29 November
2004 (108th day of detention)
According to brother of detainee, detainee was brought to the Criminal
Court from Dhoonidhoo evening 29 November and his detention was extended for
further 30 days by judge.
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28 November
2004 (107th day of detention)
Detainee remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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26 November
2004 (105th day of detention)
Family of detainee unable to obtain any more news of
detainee who remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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25 November
2004 (104th day of detention)
Family of detainee unable to obtain any more news of
detainee who remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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23 November
2004 (102nd day of detention)
Family of detainee unable to obtain any more news of
detainee who remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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Family of detainee unable to obtain any more news of
detainee who remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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Family of detainee unable to obtain
any more news of detainee who remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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Family of detainee unable to obtain any more news of
detainee who remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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Family of detainee unable to obtain any more news of
detainee who remains held in detention at Dhoonidhoo.
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Brother of detainee signed
petition to the president asking for the release of detainee.
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Reports that
detainee was brought from the detention center to
appear before a judge for extension of detention.
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According to brother-in-law, detainee has been kept in Dhoonidhoo longer
than other detainees because detainee carried a placard demanding the
resignation of the President in the one of the reform debates in July 2004.
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Lawyer of detainee given access to detainee today 17
October at Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre.
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14 October 2004 (63rd day of detention)
Police informed wife of detainee that she had been granted access to
detainee on 14 October but police later telephoned wife of detainee on the same
day and informed her that access to detainee had been withdrawn.
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11 October 2004 (59th day of detention)
Wife of detainee was allowed to access to detainee today 11 October at
Dhoonidhoo. Detainee informed his wife that his cellmate had arranged a lawyer
to represent detainee.
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10 October 2004 (58th day of detention)
Family of detainee reported that
wife of detainee had been granted access to detainee at Dhoonidhoo tomorrow 11
October at 10am.
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8 October 2004 (56th day of detention)
Colleague of detainee reported that
it was difficult to find a lawyer for the detainee and that the lawyer who
represented the detainee on a previous case was himself arrested following the
demonstration.
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3 October 2004 (51st day of detention)
Wife of detainee wrote letter to
police requesting access to detainee.
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23 September 2004 (41st day of detention)
Family member of #13 reported that
he saw detainee being escorted to Dharubaaruge where
high profile trials are held. Family member of #13 reported that the detainee
was apparently brought to trial today 23 September to sign the final statements
of the treason case pending against the detainee. Family member of #13 reported
that the police would not allow the families of the detainees to go near the
building – Dharubaaruge – where the trial hearings
were previously held.
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10 September 2004 (28th day of detention)
Visitor to prison reported that
detainee was kept in an eight by six foot cell with another detainee
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8 September 2004 (26th day of detention)
Requests by detainee’s niece and
brother to meet detainee refused by letter
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