Bill on criminalizing genocide withdrawn ‘for further review’ following controversy

A government bill to amend the Maldives’ Penal Code in order to criminalize genocide and economic sabotage has been withdrawn, mere days after it was submitted to the Parliament.

The bill, sponsored by South Maafannu MP Abdulla Rifau (Bochey), was submitted to the Parliament on Monday.

Bochey told Sun on Wednesday that the bill has been withdrawn.

It was withdrawn because it needs further review, he said.

The first reading on the bill was included in the agenda for sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday, but was later dropped both times.

According to Bochey, the bill’s primary objective is to establish genocide as a criminal offence in accordance with the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide or the Genocide Convention, to which the Maldives is a signatory.

The bill proposes adding a new provision titled ‘Genocide’ at the end of Chapter 140 of the Penal Code. Under this new provision, five acts committed with genocidal intent against national, ethnic, racial or religious groups would be classified as criminal offences. The five acts are:

• Killing members of the group.
• Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.
• Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction.
• Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.
• Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

The bill is also designed to criminalize economic sabotage; introducing penalties for four acts, whether intentional or reckless, that cause severe damage to a nation's economy, infrastructure, or financial stability, including attacking key infrastructure or computer systems linked to such infrastructure.

However, the bill sparked immediate controversy, with many linking it to a USD 20 billion waterfront and marina project that Abu Dhabi real estate giant Eagle Hills plans to develop in Rasmale’.

Some critics allege the genocide clauses are being used as a cover to criminalize antisemitism, in preparation of accommodating alleged plans to allow an Israeli settlement in Rasmale’ – allegations that the government has said are unfounded.

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib has said that Israeli nationals or Israeli-controlled entities would not be allowed as buyers, beneficial owners, shareholders, financiers or sales agents in Rasmale’.

Responding to the controversy surrounding the bill, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said the bill was designed to introduce mandatory amendments under the Genocide Convention, amendments that he said the Maldives has failed to implement for far too long even as it advocates against the genocide committed by Israelis in Gaza.