Five Black Friday Detainees have Jail Sentences Extended

Five democracy detainees, arrested after participating in the peaceful pro-democracy demonstration of the 12-13th August 2004, have been sentenced to another 30 days in solitary confinement.

Mohamed Shaaz Waleed, Abdul Rasheed Adam, Hussein Naseer, Mohamed Fauzi and Mohamed Iyaz – who have already spent over 100 days in solitary confinement, without charge, in Dhoonidhoo Jail – had their sentences increased in a midnight trial held in Male’ yesterday.

Mohamed Shaaz Waleed, 34, a known reformist, attempted to organise a reform debate in July 2004.

According to his relatives, police beat Mr Waleed up with batons and threw him down a flight of stairs in front of his wife and children during his arrest on the 13th August. Mr Waleed was then handcuffed behind his back and a policeman kicked his left hand, dislocating some of his fingers. Mr Waleed was only taken to hospital to treat his fingers on 18 September 2004 – over a month after his injury.

Abdul Rasheed Adam was arrested in early August 2004 with his brother Ahmed Adam for allegedly publishing ‘subversive material’. He was released on 12-13th August following demands made by the crowd in the August democracy rally in Male’. Mr Adam was re-arrested the following day, Black Friday, and has remained in Dhoonidhoo, under solitary confinement and without charge, ever since.

A family member of Mohamed Fauzi reported that he was so weak in court last night he had to be held up by two policemen as he was leaving.

The MDP has condemned the continued detention of the democracy campaigners. Speaking to Minivan News this morning, Mohamed Nasheed referred to it as “politically motivated, to influence the upcoming election by the regime”.

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