United Kingdom is reported to have granted political refugee status to former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, media reports quoting his lawyer.
Maldives’ first democratically elected president, Nasheed had been allowed to go to Britain in January for a spinal cord surgery following a deal brokered by Sri Lanka, India and the UK.
His lawyer Hasan Latheef claimed yesterday that Nasheed had been granted political refugee status, but the British government has not yet confirmed the reports.
“In the past year, freedom of the press, expression and assembly have all been lost. Given the slide towards authoritarianism in the Maldives myself and other opposition politicians feel we have no choice but to work from exile – for now,” Nasheed said in a statement confirming his exile.