HRCM: Supreme Court guideline does not constrain HRCM

Member of Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM), Shafeeq Mufeed said on Sunday that guideline released by Supreme Court after the suo moto case against the organization had not resulted in any constraints for HRCM in performing their responsibilities.

Speaking during a press conference held at HRCM, Shafeeq said that the guideline was a reminder for the organization to work in line with law.

“And HRCM is working as such. We do not face any constraints because of this for as long as we remain members of HRCM,” said Shafeeq.

He said that no government authority had put any limitation on any work carried out by HRCM to date.

“They have not instructed or ordered for any work to be carried out a certain way. Neither the President, who is one of the three branches of the State, nor his office, no any institution under his authority has ordered or instructed us to carry out a specific work a certain way,” said Shafeeq.

He added that no court had given any such order either, and that they had not been summoned to any court or institution over such a matter.

“We haven’t ever been summoned to Majlis and questioned over any of our investigative reports, our press statements, or over any of our mandated work,” he said.

Supreme Court pressed the suo moto case against HRCM, alleging that they had provided wrong information regarding the judiciary in the Universal Periodical Review sent to United

Nations regarding the human rights situation in Maldives.