Home Ministry orders death sentences be executed by lethal injection

Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer has today signed an order upon the Maldives Correctional Service to carry out death sentences by administering lethal injection.

Signed during an event at the Home Ministry today, the order directs the Maldives Correctional Facility to make perpetrations to carry out death sentences. The sentences are to be executed in Maafushi Prison.

Speaking to the media after signing the order, Umar Naseer said the government has assembled a draft of bill and a regulation on death sentences in the Maldives.

“The procedure is now ready. A regulation was assembled earlier and the Attorney General’s Office published the regulation on its website for comments. So our procedure and regulation will be in line with the draft bill,” Home Minister said.

Asked if he will continue and carry out the death sentence before the bill is passed, Umar Naseer said he “will not wait for a law to pass.”

“Home Minister has the prerogative to carry out the sentence. So we will not wait for a law to pass,” Home Minister, Umar Naseer said.

However, he said the Ministry will not push to expedite the death sentences cases that are yet to be appealed in the high courts.

“Government will not try to expedite or slow down a judicial matter. As the order says, the sentence will be executed after Supreme Court makes a decision. Meaning the sentence will be executed after all judicial proceedings are over,” Umar Naseer said.

Home Minister said he will release one more order over the execution of death penalty, and that it will be regarding a specific individual.

Hussain Humaam, who was charged with the murder prominent religious scholar and parliamentarian Dr Afrasheem Ali, was sentenced to death by the Criminal Court last Thursday.