- Government not informed on asylum status
- Will not hold discussions with UK over Nasheed status
- Nasheed has been granted asylum as a political refugee
Home Minister Umar Naseer has stated that the Government had not been formally notified that former President Mohamed Nasheed has been granted political asylum status and will not engage in discussions with the UK Government over the issue.
Speaking to Avas, Home Minister said the Government had not been formally notified that Nasheed had been granted asylum. He said an official confirmation is yet to be received.
When asked if the Government would engage in discussions with the UK government over the issue, he said the Government had no intention to carry out further discussions.
Speaking to Avas, Nasheed's lawyer, Hassan Latheef said the Nasheed has been granted political refugee status and that this was a formal status granted by the UK government. He added that there was no point in the Government seeking to bring him back to the Maldives.
Nasheed had requested the Maldives Correctional Service to grant an extension to his medical leave up to August 23, 2015. Hassan added that full medical treatment can only be completed with this extension. Hassan said that returning back to the Maldives was at the discretion of the former President.
No decision has been made on extending Nasheed's medical treatment but the extension has been submitted to the medical board.
