maldives is not usually top of anyone's political agenda. it may be on the short list of holiday destinations. i think there are two reasons. first of all, u.s. values are at stake. we just had the president's state of the union address and he said american leadership in the 21st century means rallying the world around causes that are right. and that -- and he gave an example of the u.s. supporting ukraine's fight for democracy and that's what we're asking for, too, in this case. the people from maldives have a right to democracy and their democracy is under threat at the moment. there's another reason which is also not very well known. just last month, the european parliament issued a report saying that at the moment the maldives has the highest per capita rate of recruitment for isis in the world. and this is really shocking. so the figures that have been released by the state department say 200 fighters have gone from the maldives to iraq or syria. >> is this a country you feel is enabling isis and is serving as a breeding ground for isis

the maldives is not usually at the top of anyone's political agenda. it may be on a short list of holiday destinations. i think there are two reasons. first of all, u.s. values are at stake. we just had the president's state of the union address and he said american leadership in the 21st century means rallying the world around causes that are right and that -- and he gave an example the u.s. supporting ukrai ukraine's fight for democracy and that's what we're asking for in this case and maldiveans are asking for democracy. at moment the maldives has the highest per capita rate of recruitment to isis in the world and this is really shocking. so the figures that have been released by the state department say 200 fight verse gone from the maldives to iraq or syria. >> is this a country that is enabling isis and a breeding ground for isis. >> the president says there is only room for islam in the maldives and sharia punishment should be imposed and you've had survivors come back to the country and not be prosecuted. also last year you had a rally on the s

e people from maldives have a right to democracy and their democracy is under threat at the moment. there's another reason which is also not very well known. just last month, the european parliament issued a report saying g at at the moment the maldives has the highest per capita rate of recruitment for isis in the world. and this is really shocking. so the figures that have been released by t t state department say 200 fighters have gone from the maldives to iraq or syria. >> is this a country you feel is enabling isis and is serving as a breeding ground for isis? >> the president has made speeches saying there's only reason for islam in the maldives and sharia punishment should be imposed. you've had fighters who've gone to isis come back to the country and not be prosecuted. also last year you had a rally on the streets of mali where people were waving isis flags and the plice did not crack down on those, there were no arrests that took place so you certainly have a regime that could be doing a lot more to minimize the terrorist threat. were attacked by one of the -- atat the tim

>> the president has made reason for islam in the maldives imposed. you've had fighters who've gone to isis come back to the country and not be prosecuted. also last year you had a rally on the streets of mali where people were waving isis flags and the police did not crack down on those, there were no arrests that took place so you certainly have a regime that could be doing a lot more to minimize the terrorist threat. >> because of your last name you were attacked by one of the -- at the time vice presidents that helped end the coup. he chalked you up to being just part of the hollywood fictional world that is trying to make up things about the maldives. >> yes. >> and what happened to this gentleman? >> so his attack was that i didn't let facts get in the way when i was saying nasheed had been subjected to an unfair trial and there were political prisoners in the country. what's happened since them is that he himself was arrested because the president is now and is going after members of his own party having dealt with his t opposition in its entir

his first meeting on arrival was with david cameron who promised to keep up pressure on the maldive maldives. >> that list represents those most responsible for human right issues in the country. those individuals should have their assets in the e.u. and u.s. frozen and that they should have their travel to those territories banned. >> reporter: in response, the maldives foreign minimumer said in a statement it is clear the former president hasee disingenuous at best and misleading at worst no seeking medical leave in the u.k. this is not medical leave but media leave. what they wanted to know is will he go back to the maldives after the 30 days of medical leave granted to him expires. he answered a question with a question. the man widely believed to be capable of winning a democratic election if he is allowed to pars advertise patent said, i will go back. the only question is how and when >>> several european countries are planning to extend temporary border controls for up to two years. that announcement follows a meeting of e.u. interior ministers in amsterdam in response to the ongoing

. >> reporter: is democracy dead in the maldives? >> democratic is dead. if there was an election now, there is nobody to run against the president. every opposition leader is behind bars or being pursued by the government through the courts. >> reporter: including her client, the first democratically-elected president of the country. he is currently locked up for 13 years on a terrorism conviction the u.n. says is bogus. in september just days before she was to go visit him in prison, the local lawyer she was working with was stabbed in the head. one would imagine that was in part trying to send a message to you. do you worry about your safety? >> i mean it wasn't the most comfortable position to be in, but i was determined to go. it meant a lot to me to meet nashid who i read about and considered a hero. i was inspired by his leadership on climate justice and human now, my island nation will be submerged by the rising sea. >> i thought the world needs more nashids. >> reporter: after a coup that forced him from office, he was event

. >>> the former president of the maldives say he may not return. he was allowed to travel on the condition he return to serve the remainder of the of of his 13 year sentence. jonah hull reports. >> appearing with his lawyers in london mohammed rasheed said his travel did not signal political change at home. >> either every opposition leader is in jail, or intimidated by the regime. medias are under constant threats and everyone day the uniquelregime taking an additiol step. it is essential the international community is not deceived into thinking that because i am here today, that the battle is over. >> democracy activist and the first democratically elected maldives president, rasheed who famously held an underwater cabinet meeting, was jailed a year ago by the current mals deefmalmaldives government for so-called terrorist activity. the first meeting on saturday was with prime minister david cameron who promised to keep up pressure on the maldives. pressure on the u.s., u.k. and uto brineu. >> that list, our concern for sanctions, they should hav

. >> the former president of the maldives, is grateful for being reunited with his family in london.e was granted permission to travel to london for surgery. on the condition he return. jonah hull reports. >> mohammed nashid said his temporary release from jail to seek spinal surgery abroad does not signal difference of approach at home. >> the media are under constant threat and every every day the regime undertakes, it is essential that the international communitcommunity is not deceivo thinking that because i am here today that the battle is over. >> reporter: democracy activist and the first democratically elected maldives president nashid who famously held an underwater cabinet meeting to underscore the importance of climate change, was jailed on so-called terrorism charges described by the u.n. as arbitrary. nashid's first meeting was with prime minister david cameron who promised to keep up pressure on the maldives. convincing officials to bring targeted sanctions against individuals in the current government. >> human rights abuses in the country, sanctions is that those indi

what the journalist wanted to know was will he go back to the maldives gets his treatment. he said i will go back, the only question is how and when >>> china has released a swedish rights activist who was taken into custody earlier this month. he was arrested on charges that committed acts that endangered the country's national security. he was detained as the country considers a new law to control the activities of foreign ngos. a cold snap has called at least 85 people in taiwan. temperatures in northern china have dropped to minus 40 degrees. in south korea thousands of holiday makers were left stranded after flights were cancelled. there is travel chaos in japan after a cold front dumps snow across the country. snow storms and plummeting temperatures are making life miserable for survivors of quake survivors in nepal. thousands of people are still living in tents. our correspondent reports. >> reporter: in laprak the weather is unpredictable. this village is near what was the center of the earthquake that took the lives of around 9,000 people last april. the entire vil