The family of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed is appealing for global pressure to help secure his freedom. A Maldives court sentenced Nasheed to 13 years in prison last month on charges of illegally ordering the arrest of a judge while he was still president. The judge was appointed by his predecessor, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Maldives for 30 years before Nasheed became its first democratically elected president in 2008. Nasheed’s attorney, Amal Clooney, and his wife, Laila Ali, spoke out in Washington.

Amal Clooney: “We are here to brief them fully on the case and to highlight the role that we believe the U.S. government can play in advancing justice. President Yameen must be told to free the former president.”

Laila Ali: “I’m very worried, really worried about his health and safety, but my husband remains strong and resolute. He is determined to fight this injustice ’til his last breath. I am in Washington today to seek the support of the United States, India, the U.K., EU and all freedom-loving countries. I want these nations to urge the government of the Maldives to release my husband from prison immediately.”

Nasheed became famous in 2009 for holding a cabinet meeting underwater to draw attention to the threat of climate change to his island nation. He was ousted in 2012 in what he called an armed coup.