Nasheed: Future dark unless the judiciary is reformed

Speaker of Parliament, former Maldivian leader Mohamed Nasheed says judicial reform is essential to overcome extremist ideologies, warning that Maldives faced a dark future unless it implements reforms.

He issued the warning at the inauguration of the Court Administrators Workshop by Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) last Tuesday night.

Nasheed said that Maldives currently stood on precarious grounds due to extremist ideologies.

He blamed the Supreme Court - which he said bowed down to political powers and overstepped its bounds – for the situation.

He alleged that the orders of “people adorned in the clothes of religious scholars” were being enforced by criminal street gangs, and that gang activity – in turn – was condoned by powers of the State.

“I see a dark future for us unless we reform the Maldivian judiciary. Justice system begins with police work, and ends with the work of judges,” said Nasheed.

He said that laws establish that the powers of the government originated from the people, and that it was the people who uphold the government.

Nasheed highlighted on the coup d’etat of 2012 which saw the end of his rule, and hinted that the coup had been carried out against the wishes of the general population.

“It’s the officials from the judiciary who are most aware of this distinction,” he said.

He said that the duty of a judge wasn’t to carry out administrative work, but to mete out justice.