Rusthum sentenced to 4 months for mocking Islam, but walks free with time served

The man from GDh. Thinadhoo arrested for mocking the religion of Islam will walk free, despite being sentenced to four months in prison.

Mohamed Rusthum Mujthaba was charged with attempt to disrupt religious unity and possession of pornography.

He had confessed to the charges during the investigation and signed a plea deal with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO).

At the sentencing hearing at the Criminal Court Sunday morning, the public prosecutor the law prescribed a prison sentence of four months and 24 days for the crime of disruption of religious unity, and a prison sentence of one months and six days for the crime of possession of pornography, and that with the plea deal, the sentence for the crimes will be reduced to three months and 18 days, and 27 days, respectively.

Based on Rusthum’s confession, the PGO did not push to increase the penalty.

The case was overseen by Judge Mohamed Misbah, who sentenced Rusthum in accordance with the prosecution’s request; three months and 18 days for disruption of religious unity, and 27 days for possession of pornography.

However, Rusthum will serve no prison time, as he had already spent six months in pre-trial detention.

Rusthum was initially arrested in response to a tweet. He tweeted that he would hold a rally against Islam for the youth in Thinadhoo, and warned he had begun a war against religion.