Ex-Maldivian Prez welcomes report to take measures on human rights abusers

Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed on Monday welcomed the case for "targeted sanctions" prepared by an American human rights activist, urging the European Union to impose restrictive measures on "serious human rights abusers in the Maldives".

Taking to twitter, the founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party Nasheed wrote, "Welcome case for targeted sanctions prepared by Jared Genser urging the EU to move from condemnation to action by imposing restrictive measures against serious human rights abusers in response to the crisis in the Maldives."

Jared Genser, a human rights activist also serves as international counsel to former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed.

In a detailed report, Genser has focused on the human rights violation committed under President Abdulla Yameen and "his repressive regime".

"This report recommends the Council of the European Union adopt a Council decision and regulation imposing human rights-based sanctions in response to the crisis in the Maldives, including targeted asset freezes and travel bans, for those implicated in major human rights abuses in the Maldives," said part of the report.

The Maldives is facing political unrest since President Abdulla Yameen imposed emergency after refusing to implement a Supreme Court order of freeing imprisoned opposition leaders.

On February 2, the Maldivian Supreme Court acquitted former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, former Maldivian Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and ordered the reinstatement of 12 other parliamentary members.

However, on February 20, Maldives Parliament approved the extension of the State of Emergency by 30 days; a day after President Abdulla Yameen sought the extension citing threat to national security and the constitutional crisis in the country.

The opposition leaders boycotted the session and called the extension illegal and unconstitutional.

The political unrest in the country deepened further when the police used force to crack down on the Maldivian opposition leaders, who continued to hold anti-government protests.