Mohamed Latheef
{{Short description|Maldivian politician (died 2022)}}
{{for|the former ambassador of the Maldives to the United Nations|Mohamed Latheef (ambassador)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mohamed Latheef
| image =
| native_name = މުހައްމަދު ލަތީފް
| native_name_lang = dv
| other_names = Gogo Latheef
| birth_place = Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives
| death_date = 3 July 2022
| death_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka
| alma_mater = Trinity College, Kandy
Royal College, Colombo
| known_for = Co-founding the Maldivian Democratic Party
Father of Jennifer Latheef
Parliamentarian
| party = Maldivian Democratic Party
| children = Jennifer Latheef
}}
Mohamed Latheef ({{Langx|dv|މުހައްމަދު ލަތީފް}}; died 3 July 2022), more popularly known as Gogo Latheef ({{Langx|dv|ގޯގޯ ލަތީފް}}), was a Maldivian politician, a former parliamentarian and a campaigner for human rights. He is a co-founder of the MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party), a political party in the Maldives.{{Cite news |last=Shahid |first=Malika |date=3 July 2022 |title=MDP co-founder Latheef passes away |url=https://edition.mv/mohamed_latheef/25125 |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Edition}} He was self-exiled in Sri Lanka for a number of years.{{Cite web |date=19 August 2005 |title=IFJ Protests Over Renewed Repression in the Maldives |url=https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/article/ifj-protests-over-renewed-repression-in-the-maldives |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=International Federation of Journalists}}
Background
Latheef has alleged that his father and close relatives were killed while in prison during the regime of the former Maldivian President Ibrahim Nasir.{{Cite news |title=Maldivian vows to fight injustice |url=https://sundaytimes.lk/040307/news/12.html |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=Sunday Times}} Latheef, who was himself a member of parliament and once a close associate of President Gayoom, was held in solitary confinement for three months without any charges being brought against him. He was also named a Prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International in 2002.{{Cite web |date=28 May 2002 |title=Amnesty International Report 2002 - Maldives |url=https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/amnesty/2002/en/79866 |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Refworld |publisher=UNCHR |agency=Amnesty International}} As well as being a cofounder, he was also the Spokesperson of the MDP.{{Cite news |date=14 December 2004 |title=Statement by the MDP in response to the Declaration of the Heads of Mission of the EU accredited to the Maldives |url=https://minivannewsarchive.com/business/statement-by-the-mdp-in-response-to-the-declaration-of-the-heads-of-mission-of-the-eu-accredited-to-the-maldives-224 |access-date=10 June 2024 |work=Minivan News |via=Minivan News - Archive}} While Latheef was living in exile in Sri Lanka, he was subjected to threats by the Maldivian government.
He is the father of Jennifer Latheef, a journalist who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her alleged involvement in the civil unrest of 2003.{{Cite news |date=16 August 2006 |title=Maldives dissident rejects pardon |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4799305.stm |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=BBC News}}
Latheef was the Human Rights Ambassador of the Maldives.
Early life and education
He was born in the island of GdH. Thinadhoo.{{Cite web |date=23 January 2007 |title=MDP Founder Mohamed Latheef ends exile, accorded a hero's welcome back home |url=https://themdp.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/mdp-founder-mohamed-latheef-ends-exile-accorded-a-hero%E2%80%99s-welcome-back-home/ |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=Maldivian Democratic Party |publisher=WordPress}} Latheef was educated in Sri Lanka, first at Trinity College, Kandy and then at the Royal College, Colombo.
Death
He died from a long-term illness at Nawaloka Hospital in Sri Lanka.{{Cite news |last=Naizak |first=Mohamed |date=3 July 2022 |title=Founding member of MDP, Gogo Latheef passes away |url=https://en.sun.mv/75940 |access-date=10 June 2024 |work=Sun}}
References
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Category:Members of the People's Majlis
Category:Year of birth missing
Category:Alumni of Royal College, Colombo
Category:Maldivian Democratic Party politicians
Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Kandy
{{Maldives-politician-stub}}
Category:Amnesty International prisoners of conscience held by the Maldives