Ahmed Abbas appointed Concept Advisor at President’s Office

Famous cartoonist and former Amnesty International ‘prisoner of conscience’ Ahmed Abbas was appointed Concept Advisor at the President’s Office this morning at the level of State Minister.

During the post-2004 pro-democracy reform movement, Abbas was sentenced in absentia to six months imprisonment for ‘disobedience to an order’ in November 2006 and later charged with inciting violence regarding comments made to the now-defunct Minivan Daily newspaper.

Abbas was quoted in the newspaper on August 2, 2005 as saying: “What we should do to those in the Star Force [police] who beat us, is to seek them out individually and for us to act in such a manner that makes them feel that beatings result in pain, otherwise they will not be subdued.”

Abbas also sensationally sought refuge in the UN building in the capital Male’ on November 2 after being sentenced in absentia. The UN was unable to offer him sanctuary.

Abbas was one of designers of the Maldivian rufiyaa banknotes.