Minister Imran: Govt. not in view of enforcing death penalty

Home Minister Imran Abdulla has stated that the current administration’s policy regarding death penalty is the same policies followed in the Maldives previously, adding that the government was not planning to enforce death penalty.

At today’s parliamentary sitting, Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq had questioned Minister Imran regarding the government’s policies enforcing the sentences of death-row inmates who have fulfilled all perquisites.

Responding to the question – Minister Imran said that the policy followed in the Maldives even at present is delaying the enforcement of death penalty. Noting that the policy was not borne by the current administration – he stressed that none of the administrations since the inception of the second republic of Maldives had changed this policy.

“The policy by Maldivian government in enforcing death penalties issued by Maldivian judicial courts during the past half a century is the same moratorium as now,” he had said.

Speaking further, Minister Imran said that although some political parties have previously pledged to enforce death penalty for political gains, none have actually enforced the same in governance.

Convicts that the Supreme Court has upheld the death penalty so far in the Maldives include Dr. Afrasheem Ali's assailant Hussain Humaam Ahmed, Lawyer Mohamed Najeeb’s assailant Ahmed Murrath and Abdulla Faruhadh, S. Hulhudhoo, Lilymaage’s assailant Mohamed Nabeel.