India expresses 'deep concern' over Nasheed's jail sentence

India today voiced "deep concern" over the developments in Maldives, a day after Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed was given 13-year imprisonment by a criminal court in Male under anti-terrorism laws.
"We are deeply concerned over the developments in the Maldives. We are monitoring the situation there," said the Spokesman of External Affairs Ministry.
In a court hearing late last night, Nasheed, Maldives' first democratically elected leader who was arrested on February 22 over the detention of a judge in 2012, was charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1990.
"The Anti-Terrorism Act, inter alia, classifies an act of terrorism to include kidnapping, holding as hostage or apprehending someone against their will or attempts to kidnap, hold hostage or apprehend someone without their will, for the extra judicial enforced disappearance of the sitting Chief Judge of Criminal Court," sources said, quoting the court judgement.

47-year-old Nasheed resigned as the Maldives' President in February 2012 after a mutiny by police and troops that followed weeks of protests over the arrest of judge Abdullah Mohamed on corruption allegations.
Nasheed was provided the constitutionally guaranteed access to legal counsel, a Maldivian embassy statement said here, adding "the former President was provided an additional opportunity to seek legal counsel after his defence lawyers recused themselves from the case, although he chose not to do so."

The Prosecutor General's case against Nasheed was based on the investigation report of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives into the kidnapping of the judge.

India had expressed concern over the "arrest and manhandling" of Nasheed a few days ago and asked all the involved to resolve their differences within the constitutional framework.
Nasheed had taken shelter at the Indian High Commission in Male to avoid arrest in connection with the same case in February 2013.
The former President has a constitutional right of appeal to the High Court of Maldives.