Corporate report

Republic of Maldives – Human Rights Priority Country

Updated 8 February 2017

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government

Republic of Maldives

In 2015, the human rights situation in Maldives deteriorated, with a sustained decline in democracy and judicial independence as President Yameen’s government tightened its grip on power. Political and civil freedoms were eroded, opposition and some government figures were arbitrarily arrested, the press resorted to self-censorship, and there were worrying moves to re-introduce the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 60 years. Growing religious conservatism was also a cause for concern.

In February, former President Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years on charges of terrorism following a trial that was internationally condemned. By the end of 2015, all opposition party leaders were in prison, detained, or in self-imposed exile.

In October, former Vice President Adeeb was detained: the eleventh senior government official to be arrested or dismissed since President Yameen came to power in November 2013. A few weeks later, the government declared a State of Emergency. It lasted six days and a number of basic constitutional rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, were suspended. The suspension of parliamentary process during the State of Emergency enabled the swift and unchallenged impeachment of Mr Adeeb, making him the second Vice President to be impeached in a six-month period.

Throughout the year, various regulations were introduced which restricted democratic space. The Home Ministry insisted NGOs seek permission before receiving foreign funding; this hampered their ability to function independently. At the end of November, the Home Minister announced a ban on street protests, stating that they should take place in “confined public spaces”. This raised serious questions about the ability to exercise freedom of assembly and free speech. The Supreme Court, in a move to centralise and consolidate power, took the responsibility for regulating lawyers away from the Attorney General. We do not believe that the concerns in a report in 2013 by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers have been addressed, including on the fact that many interventions by courts were arbitrary, and that due process was not being followed. The Anti-Terrorism Act, introduced in November, gave the government unfettered power to monitor people.

The UK was at the forefront of international efforts to encourage Maldives to improve its human rights record. On 30 November, following the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, the Prime Minister welcomed the conclusion of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group that Maldives were worthy of formal consideration. He said, “the Commonwealth has an important role to play in helping its members adhere to its values.” The FCO’s Minister for Asia, Hugo Swire, and FCO officials regularly raised our human rights concerns with senior government officials.

In 2016, we will continue to remind Maldives of its commitment to protect human rights, using both quiet diplomacy and public messaging. We will also use co-ordinated international engagement to push for greater political plurality and inclusion; the protection of fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly; the independence of the judiciary; and the reversal of moves to reintroduce the death penalty. The Commonwealth, EU and UN will be important partners.