Amnesty International condemns attempts to resume executions

International Human Rights NGO Amnesty International has called on the Maldives to stop plans to resume executions for the first time in 60 years.

The statement follows an order yesterday signed by Home Minister Umar Naseer directing the Maldives Correctional Service to start making “all necessary arrangements” for the implementation of all death sentences through lethal injection.

“Any move towards resuming executions in Maldives would be a retrograde step and a serious setback for human rights in the country,” said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International’s Maldives Researcher.

“There is no such thing as a ‘humane’ way to put someone to death, and no evidence that the threat of execution works as a deterrent to crime. Maldives should put an immediate end to such plans now, and instead abolish the death penalty in law once and for all.”

While Maldives legally retains the death penalty, it has not carried out an execution since 1954. There are currently 19 prisoners on death row.