Lawyers for Adhaalath Party Leader Sheikh Imran Abdullah has stated that the 12 year jail sentence issued on the Sheikh was determined even before the trial started.
Imran was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison on terror charges filed against him in connection to the violence that occurred on the opposition led May Day protests of last year.
The sentence, issued by Criminal Court, state that Imran was implicit in the violence as it was his speech that spurred protesters to become violent.
In the appeal hearings held today in High Court, Imran’s lawyer Sheikh Ali Zahir stated that the Criminal Court bench that reviewed the case had acted against the ethical values of judges. He said that Judge Abdul Baaree Yoosuf had declared in Court that the verdict was a guaranteed one and “already decided on”.
Ali Zahir added that due to the verdict on Imran, all political parties are in hesitation to conduct any activities and that the right to free speech has been severely hampered.
Ali Zahir’s co-counsel, Husnu Suood said that Imran was sentenced on clauses pertaining to an outdated law. He said that the law did not specify that any calls to violence was deemed as terrorism. Therefore, Husnu Suood argued that Imran was sentenced on a crime that did not exist in the said law.
State lawyers defended the ruling issued by Criminal Court, stating that Imran’s statements were inflammatory, sometimes urging to act and other times calling not to act.
State lawyers had argued for High Court to accept the Criminal Court ruling, while defense lawyers argued to nullify the sentence issued on Imran.
Judges Shujau Usman, Abdullah Hameed and Abdullah Didi concluded today’s hearing, stating that an additional hearing will be held soon.
Imran’s verdict was predetermined: lawyers
