Human rights advocates are voicing strong concerns over the Republic of Maldives’ intention to reinstate the death penalty after a six-decade moratorium. Human Rights Watch, alongside ten other organizations, has urged the government to abandon plans to institute capital punishment for drug-related offenses.
The proposal, which threatens to undermine Maldives’ commitments under international law, comes in the wake of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s announcement that a bill will be submitted to the Legislature to lift the longstanding moratorium by May. This moratorium has been in effect since 1954.
The decision seems to run contrary to prevailing regional and global movements towards abolishing capital punishment. Presently, 113 countries have eliminated the death penalty entirely, a shift that highlights concerns about the Maldives’ legislative direction. A press release from the President’s Office affirmed that the bill’s passage would lead to the implementation of capital punishment in cases deemed legally final.
Last December, a tightening of penalties was witnessed as President Muizzu ratified the Third Amendment to the Drugs Act, imposing harsher repercussions for drug-related convictions, potentially extending to the death penalty.
Critics of the proposal argue that extending capital punishment to offenses previously not punishable by such measures not only contravenes international efforts to abolish the death penalty but also flouts commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and numerous United Nations resolutions. Amnesty International has echoed these concerns, emphasizing the oppressive nature of such legal regressions.
The Maldives’ path forward hangs in the balance as the global community watches closely, hoping for adherence to international human rights obligations. The international community’s expectation is that the Maldives will reconsider its approach, thus aligning with contemporary human rights norms.
For more details, the developments can be tracked here.