Torture of Sheikh Fareed by Gayyoom in Maldives

Local News

Sheikh Fareed to be transferred to prison yet again tomorrow

18 March 2005

DO can confirm that Sheikh Fareed is to be transferred back to prison this tomorrow, Sat 19^th March. Sheikh Fareed was transferred to house arrest only last week due to severe illness and poor health. During his house arrest, no wivistors are allowed in his house, M. Ethere without prior permission of the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services.

Many now believe that Sheikh Fareed was brought to Male’ on the day Muaviyath died on 9^th March.

Sheikh Fareed was fit and healthy when he was taken to prison last year after the mass protests in Male on August 2003. Even before he was taken to prison, he was blindfolded and beaten up in the police headquarters in Male'. Over a dozen police kicked him with their ankle boots till he knocked unconscious for hours. His beard was pulled and hairs were even plucked off by police torturers. Now Sheikh Fareed can barely walk and requires a aid. He cannot even sit down without a "cushion ring" as shown in the video because of severe pain to his spine and anus. To this day, even after all the tortures and grief he has gone through, Sheikh Fareed has still not signed any statement but he is serving a prison term for allegedly violating the Protection of Religious Unity of Maldivians Act and sentenced for 2 years imprisonment on 26 September 2004 whilst he was held in connection with the demonstrations of Black Friday. Fareed was held in Solitary confinement for more than 20 months in 2002/2003 for the said charges which we not proven nor was Fareed given access to a lawyer. Government of Gayyoom even alleged that Fareed was a terrorist in a letter to Amnesty International last year.
In November 2004, brother in law of Fareed reported that the sentence count given by the Department of Penitentiary was contrary to the "Rules relating to the conduct of judicial proceedings (No: 6)" which specifically cited that the duration the accused was held under detention prior to his conviction would be included in his sentence if the accused confessed to his crime during his detention. Fareed is very frail now and need good medical care but Gayyoom is denying that basic right to him. Despite being physically weak, Fareed is believed to be mentally and spiritually strong.

"There is no sign of letting Fareed go because Gayyoom has a personal vendetta against Fareed for being a better preacher than he is. Gayyoom is not even a Muslim, how can he be an Islamic Scholar, he is a murderer and abuses Islam and uses it to torture and kill his subjects! That is not characteristics of a true believer" said Abdulla who is a close associate of Fareed's family.

Justice will prevail, we have faith in our God, the Almighty.