Legal counsel for Adhadhu journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Naseer has alleged that they are being deprived of their basic rights in prison.
Shahzan was jailed following a question posed to President Mohamed Muizzu, while Leevan was sentenced for reporting on a Criminal Court order aimed at halting discussions on the "Aisha" documentary, which featured serious allegations against the President by a former President's Office employee.
These concerns were formally submitted to the Maldives Correctional Service yesterday by the journalists' lawyer, Abdulla Shairu, alongside Adhadhu CEO Hussain Fiyaz Moosa and Editor Hassan Mohamed.
Shairu stated that the Maldives Correctional Service is engaging in actions that violate human dignity and deprive Shahzan and Leevan of the basic rights guaranteed to them in detention.
The lawyer highlighted that since their transfer to Maafushi Prison on May 12, the two journalists were forced to wear the same set of clothes for four consecutive days.
Shairu emphasized that this is a matter of human dignity, noting that keeping detainees without a change of clothes for several days constitutes a form of abuse.
"Being kept in the same clothes for four days is torture," he said.
The lawyer further noted that the journalists have been restricted from exercising their right to make purchases, a standard privilege afforded to inmates.
He explained that although MVR 2,000 was deposited into their accounts the day after their sentencing, Leevan and Shahzan were not permitted to use those funds to purchase essential items.
According to the lawyer, Leevan requires a specific lotion for a skin condition, yet obstacles have been placed in the way of obtaining such necessities.
Shairu argued that while the Correctional Service may have specific internal regulations, fundamental rights guaranteed by law cannot be suspended under such policies.
He noted that denying smokers the opportunity to purchase cigarettes can have significant psychological impacts, adding that while smoking is a health hazard, withholding such rights is unlawful.
Shairu stressed that this issue extends beyond Leevan and Shahzan, asserting that it is a conversation that must be had for the sake of all prison inmates.
Pointing to international standards and the Maldives' Anti-Torture Act, Shairu remarked that while some may believe prisoners do not deserve rights, the pain of such treatment is only truly understood when a family member faces such circumstances. He called on the public to speak out against inhumane practices within the prison system.
