HRCM members refuse to attend Juvenile Court

Members of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) refused to attend Juvenile Court on Tuesday to answer what the court says are false information in a report communicated by the commission to the court in December last year.

An official from Juvenile Court told Sun that HRCM members have written to the Juvenile Court stating various reasons why they have the right not to present themselves, after being notified to be present at the court at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The court refused to accept the "excuses", and has again notified the commission to be present at the court at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the court official said.

Juvenile Court summoned HRCM on 17 March and allowed the commission to prepare for the court’s inquiry, where they had also said that there were no charges against the commission, and that the court just wanted to clarify the information provided in the report.

The report, which the court says contained false information undermining its authority - was complied by the HRCM regarding responses by different state institutions over the sexual injuries suffered by the 15-year-old Feydhoo girl, a case which had gained considerable attention after she was later sentenced to flogging for fornication early last year.

Some of the information stated in the report were attempts to influence the court’s decisions and produced a negative image against the court, said the Juvenile Court.