Home Ministry dissolves Maldives Bar Association

Ministry of Home Affairs has dissolved the Maldives Bar Association, a local non-governmental organization of lawyers.

Home Ministry informed the Maldives Bar Association on 9 April to change its name following a Supreme Court ruling stating that the establishment of a Bar Association, and the operation of such an association in activities related to the justice system of the Maldives, will not be allowed.

Maldives Bar Association was registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs by former Attorney General Husnu Al Suood and group of local prominent lawyers on 11 April 2013.

Husnu Al Suood, who was also the President of Maldives Bar Association, told Sun Online today that he is deeply concerned by the Home Ministry’s decision and that the Ministry has recently been reluctant to register organizations with the prefix “Maldives” in its name. An organization’s name must be allowed be represent its origin, Suood said.