Maldives: Political opponent pardoned and opposition leader released

On 16 August, the President pardoned Jennifer Latheef, an opposition political activist sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment in 2005 for “encouraging to commit terrorist acts”. On 21 September, the Government also released Mohamed Nasheed, the leader of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who was under house arrest for charges of terrorism and treason. The ICJ sent trial monitors to both trials.