Jennifer Latheef

Jennifer Latheef is a daughter of Mohamed Latheef, a leading Maldivian politician and government critic. She also worked as a Maldivian journalist and photographer for a short period of time.

According to an Amnesty International report released in 2003, Jennifer Latheef

is an artist and video film producer particularly focusing on the prevalence of sexual abuse in the country. She is known for holding views critical of the government and against censorship, and this is believed to be the main reason for her continued detention. She is currently detained under house arrest in Malé. In addition, it is believed that Jennifer Latheef’s continued detention may be a measure by the government to limit the activities of her father, Mohamed Latheef, a Maldivian politician currently living in exile in Sri Lanka where he is engaged in a campaign of peaceful political opposition to the Government of Maldives. [Amnesty International, [http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA290052003 The Republic of Maldives: Prisoners of conscience should be released] , 19 November 2003]

Jennifer Latheef was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on October 18, 2005, convicted of "terrorism" for joining a protest in September 2003 against deaths in prison and political repression. [Reporters sans frontières, [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15513 Jennifer Latheef - In prison since 18 October 2005] ] Amnesty International adopted her as a Prisoner of Conscience during her time in prison and campaigned for her release. [Minivan News, [http://minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=1333 Jennifer Latheef Declared Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience] , 18 October 2005]

She was detained in Maafushi Prison on the Kaafu Atoll, 18 miles south of the capital, Malé. She was reportedly not being given regular access to the medication which she needs to take daily to regulate her blood sugar. Fact|date=February 2007

She was released on 16 August 2006. She was informed of her release from house arrest through a presidential pardon. Initially, she refused to accept the government offer of release on two grounds: firstly, that her release should have been unconditional and not through a pardon, since this would imply that she had committed a recognizably criminal offence – which she had not; and secondly, she insisted that the other four political prisoners convicted at the same trial should also be released. After consulting with friends and other human rights defenders, Jennifer Latheef agreed to accept the offer of release from house arrest. [amnesty international in asia and the pacific, [http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/aproweb.nsf/pages/goodNews_maldives_ua27305 Good News from Maldives! Jennifer Latheef Freed] , 26 October 2006]

References

ee also

*IFEX - [http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/73739 Latheef under house arrest]
*ARTICLE 19 - [http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/maldives-press-freedom-mission-report.pdf Report by International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to the Maldives]
*Minivan News - [http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2673 Jennifer Latheef Resigns From MDP]
*Friends of the Maldives - [http://www.friendsofmaldives.org NGO encouraging people to select non-governtmental holiday resorts]