Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Offers Full Support to Save Anojan

25-Sep-2026

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Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has assured that, although Anojan’s social media post was a serious matter for the Muslim community, he would support efforts to save the young man’s life on humanitarian grounds and provide all possible assistance.

An official initiative to seek the protection of the life of Sivarasa Anojan, who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a social media post, has been launched by President’s Counsel Faizer Musthapha and President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma.

It is noteworthy that the two lawyers are undertaking this decisive diplomatic mission at their own expense, under the direct intervention of the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Government has decided to immediately send the two lawyers to Saudi Arabia as special diplomatic envoys seeking to save Anojan’s life. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath made the official announcement regarding the decision in Parliament the day before yesterday.

As the first step in the initiative, lawyers Faizer Musthapha and Upul Kumarapperuma met former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed in the Maldives yesterday afternoon and discussed the request in this regard.

Mohamed Nasheed was the first democratically elected President of the Maldives. He is also internationally recognised as a prominent politician and social activist.

Speaking during the important meeting, former President Mohamed Nasheed stated that although Anojan’s post was a serious matter for the Muslim community, he would support him on humanitarian grounds, taking into consideration the life of a young man. He also assured that he would provide all possible support to save Anojan’s life.

President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma confirmed that the meeting held in the Maldives yesterday had been very successful and that they were prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming days.