Press Secretary to the President, Mr. Mohamed Zuhair has issued his official Statememnt towards the transfer of Guantanamobay Jail Deatainees.
Male 24th May 2010

Quote from Press Secretary Zuhair regarding transfer of Palestinian man from Guantanamo Bay to the Maldives

“Every Muslim knows that many of those incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay detention facility were detained without charge and have never been convicted of any crime. Sometimes, innocent people were arrested in Pakistan and sent to Guantanamo because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“The Government of Maldives supports President Obama’s plans to close Guantanamo.
A Palestinian gentleman is due to be transferred from Guantanamo to the Maldives.

“The United States has cleared this Palestinian man of any association with terrorism or any violent activities. The US has also confirmed that he has no criminal charges pending against him. The man is a member of Tablighi Jamaat, a non-violent Muslim missionary organization. If he returns to the Middle East, however, he faces danger because of his association with Guantanamo.

“We should support innocent Palestinians. As a people, they have suffered so much injustice. The DRP should not add to the injustice that this innocent Palestinian has already suffered.

“I hope when he arrives in the Maldives, we will treat him as he should be treated: as a victim who has been jailed for many years even though he has committed no crime.

“The DRP have labeled this Palestinian man a terrorist, even though they don’t have any evidence to back up their claim.

“The DRP protested when the Maldives recognized diplomatic relations with Israel. Yet here is the same party, happy to sell out an innocent Palestinian for the sake of cheap political point scoring. DRP leaders should be ashamed of themselves.”