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Alert

Journalist Jennifer Latheef sentenced to 10 years in prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at the 10-year prison sentence imposed on 18 October 2005 on journalist and human rights activist Jennifer Latheef for a supposed "terrorist act," adding that she had been the victim of a political trial.

"She received this heavy sentence in large part because she is the daughter of exiled opposition leader Mohamed Latheef," the press freedom organisation said. "The terrorism charges were merely a device to silence a political opponent and gag an independent journalist. We call on President Gayoom to respect his commitment to democratisation and to ensure that Jennifer Latheef is retried by an impartial court that respects defendants' rights."

The "terrorist act" supposedly committed by Latheef, now aged 32, was to have allegedly thrown a stone at a police officer during a 20 September 2003 demonstration protesting the deaths of five prisoners of conscience under torture. The charge was based entirely on the testimony of police officers that was often contradictory.

Latheef's health has deteriorated steadily in recent weeks largely due to the stress of the trial. She was hospitalised in early October 2005 and was unable to attend a 13 October hearing at which five other dissidents on trial with her received 11-year sentences. Latheef was arrested after the 18 October hearing, but the authorities did not say where she had been taken.

Latheef is a researcher and photographer with the "Minivan Daily", a newspaper that currently has two other journalists in prison (see IFEX alert of 17 October 2005).