International Commission of Jurists joins calls for the release of Judge Abdulla

The International Commission of Jurists has joined calls for the Maldives military to release Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed of the Criminal Court who was arrested on 16 January, a report by Radio Australia said yesterday.

The report said Judge Abdulla was arrested after he ordered the release of a Government critic being detained without a warrant. The Supreme Court of the country has issued an order to release the judge minutes after his arrest, but he was not released. The move sparked protests in Male’. The country’s Vice President says he is ashamed of his Government’s action, and the UN has called for the judge to be either freed or charged.

But President Mohamed Nasheed says the country’s judicial system is unable to regulate itself and is accusing the judge of political bias.

President of Australia Branch of the International Commission of Jurists John Dowd, told Radio Australia that those allegations are unfair. “Clearly he has been demonstrating independence as he is supposed to do and the Government doesn’t like it,” Mr. Dowd said.

“Even if the Government’s assertions about what he’s supposed to have done wrong (were correct) none of it would warrant his arrest, none of it would warrant his incarceration and its clear the he must be immediately released.