Self exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed has been awarded the 2017 Courage Award, at the 9th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.
“It is a great honor to receive this award,” said Nasheed, who thanked human rights lawyer Amal Clooney for helping to free him.
Nasheed was jailed on terror charges after he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison over the arbitrary detention of a sitting judge while he was president.
He now lives in self imposed exile in the UK after he was allowed to leave to Britain on medical leave in an internationally brokered deal in January last year.
“It’s very encouraging to see so many good people doing good work,” said Nasheed.
"We may stumble, we may fall, but I assure everyone, we will pick ourselves up and continue with the same work with more vigor than the past.”
“I feel it is imperative for NGOs, diplomats, and politicians to come together and physically safeguard the space for freedom. Suppression anywhere is suppression everywhere. The world is full of people that when push comes to shove will stand up for their families and humanity.”
