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Maldives politician Mohamed Nasheed released from house arrest in Malé Michael O'Shea 30 August 2002 Mohamed Nasheed Popular Maldivian politician Mohamed Nasheed has been freed in Malé, after almost a year of imprisonment, exile and house arrest. He was summoned to the Department of Corrections at 2.30 pm on Thursday 29 August and told he was released. Nasheed was one of the leaders of a group of Maldivian reformers pressing for the introduction of political parties, and for ministerial accountability to the Majlis, or Parliament. His arrest and imprisonment, over a dubious allegation of petty theft, was based on an incident that occurred in the presence of ministers and other senior officials at a public house auction in Malé in October 2001. Exiled to Raa atoll early in 2002, he was later held under house arrest at his Malé home. President Gayyoom (second from right) attending an opening ceremony of the Majlis Photo: Haveeru Nasheed's political effectiveness has been curtailed, both by his isolation and the loss of his Majlis seat due to the conviction for petty theft. However, his popularity remains strong among the crucial Malé electorate, and President Gayyoom has lost credibility over the affair. The Maldivian policing and court system has also been exposed as lacking integrity and legal direction, and functioning as a compliant extension of the President's will. top

Mohamed Nasheed stripped of Malé Majlis seat High-level conspiracy keeps Mohamed Nasheed in exile

Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
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