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4th October 2006

Jennifer Latheef visits Europe

Jennifer Latheef, recently released from house arrest has been travelling to Europe.

In Geneva, Jenny met with the United Nations Human Rights Council where she gave some powerful speeches, stressing on the importance of an independent judiciary, a strong civil society and respect for the rule of law.

In London, meetings were arranged with Journalists and human rights group that have been very active calling for her release.

Jenny was able to explain why she is fighting to clear her name of all terrorism charges in two radio interviews with BBC World service, and BBC Radio 4 Women's Hour, a programme listened by 2.7 million people across the week.

Listen to Jenny’s interview on Women’s Hour:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/01/2006_39_tue.shtml

Listen to Jenny’s interview on BBC World radio service, Outlook:

http://www.dhivehiobserver.tv/Audio/Jenny_BBC_280906.htm

Jennifer has been updating human rights groups in the UK with the latest news on the situation in the Maldives. Her interviews with Media have raised awareness across the UK which counts the highest number of tourist visitors to the Maldives.

Jenny With Agnes Callamard, Executive director of Article 19

Jenny visits BBC World Service Studio

FOM calls on the Maldives Government to:

• Clear Jennifer Latheef and Mohamed Nasheed of all charges against them

• Release political prisoners charged with Jennifer Latheef and the Minivan journalist Abdulla Saeed (Fahala).

• Refrain from charging the pro-democracy activists from Addu Atoll

• Refrain from retribution against other islanders carrying out their right to protest

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Friends of Maldives

64 Milford Street
Salisbury
SP1 2BP
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1722 504330
E: enquiries@friendsofmaldives.org
W: www.friendsofmaldives.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

Friends of Maldives – www.friendsofmaldives.org

Friends of Maldives (FOM) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Maldives. Based in the UK and established in 2003. FOM focuses its activities on providing support and publicity to prisoners of conscience and good governance in the Maldives.