Nasheed defends Sikka: Confession obtained through torture

Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed, on Friday, stated that Sikka Ahmed Ismail’s confession regarding taking part in the coup of November 3 was obtained through torture.

Sikka Ismail is First Lady Fazna Ahmed’s father. He is married to Nasheed’s aunt.

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, and the opposition coalition has been criticizing the current administration – claiming they do not mark November, 3, the Victory Day. Yameen expressed his sentiments through an English poem publicized on his Twitter account on Thursday, describing November 3 as ‘Sikka Day’.

Via a tweet on Friday, Nasheed said that infringement of Sikka’s reputation in connection to the coup was absolutely unacceptable.

“The statement of confession obtained from him after he was severely tortured, and brought to the verge of death, is a huge fraud,” he added.

Sikka was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1988, following his confession of having been a part of the November 3 coup which claimed the lives of 19 Maldivians. However, he was pardoned by then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom merely after two years.

Grand ceremonies have been held by previous administrations to the mark the Victory Day – a practice to which the current administration did not conform. However, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih released an address to the nation on the occasion via the President’s Office’s website on Thursday.

The public has also criticized the government over its failure to mark the Victory Day on a major scale. MRM, included in the government coalition, has also urged large saled celebrations for the occasion.