The Office of President Nasheed strongly condemns the Department of Immigration & Emigration (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) of Maldives for deliberately defying the court order by Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court & preventing President Nasheed from traveling abroad to see his father who is to undergo surgery.

On 21 December 2012, President Nasheed went to the Airport to leave abroad to see his father who is to undergo surgery. He was told at the Airport by an Official of the Department of Immigration & Emigration that he would not be able to travel as he was under a travel ban from the Hulhumale’ Magistrate Court.

President Nasheed’s lawyers had sought all the necessary permits from the courts for his travel & the Office of President Mohamed Nasheed had completed all the formalities prior to his travel.

However, since President Nasheed was prevented from traveling today, his lawyer Mrs Hisaan Hussain obtained a copy of the Court Order, ordering the Immigration Authorities to allow President Nasheed to travel.

“This is a clear breach of the Order & the Immigration Authorities should be held in Contempt of Court for ignoring the Court Order” said Mrs Hisaan Hussain.

“This is a clear breach of Article 41 of the Constitution which allows citizens to travel and move freely. I see the similarity between the Waheed regime and the Burmese Junta which did not allow Aung San Suu Kyi to travel abroad to attend her husband’s funeral” said Mariya Didi (MP), Spokesperson for President Nasheed.

The Office of President Nasheed reiterates its calls on the Waheed Regime to respect the basic human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Maldives.