Amal Clooney, successful human rights lawyer with the firm Doughty Street Chambers, will be representing jailed former president of the Maldives in an attempt to rectify what Amnesty International refers to as "a travesty of justice".
Human rights lawyer: Amal Clooney
On Wednesday, Mrs Clooney visited her latest high-profile client, Mohamed Nasheed, who took office in 2008 as the first democratically elected president of the Maldives. Nasheed was forcefully deposed four years later, and now sits in prison, having been sentenced to 13 years for the crime of "terrorism" after a hasty trial.
The case has been internationally condemned, with figures such as David Cameron and United Nations human rights chief calling for the release of the charismatic and liberal-minded leader.
"Nasheed's conviction for 'terrorism' and the crushing 13-year sentence are a mockery of justice, designed to punish him for criticising the government and remove him as a political threat," wrote Amal Clooney, who is offering her services pro bono, in The Guardian.
Representing the government of the island, better known for pristine beaches than political turmoil, is Omnia Strategy, a legal firm run by Cherie Blair. Mrs Blair, the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair, has reportedly struck a lucrative deal to advise the autocratic government.
Mark Stephens, one of the best known human rights lawyers in the UK, told The Guardian that although Mrs Blair is not the villain portrayed in the media, he is concerned about the Maldives case.
"Cherie is a stunningly good lawyer, so one needs to be slightly queasy at the prospect of a human rights lawyer of her quality representing a state with such low human rights values where she could bolster the regime with precedents which erode human rights," he said.