Foreign Minister: UN sent a notice, did not give any order

Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Asim said that United Nations had not given any specific order to Maldivian government regarding the death sentence issued to murder convict Hussain Humam Ahmed, and that they had just sent a note requesting the government to hold off Humam’s execution, which government was considering.

Asim, who until Wednesday morning was Maldivian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, said in his first press conference hours after assuming office, that UN Human Rights Committee had merely sent a note regarding Humam’s death sentence on Tuesday night, and not any specific order.

“UN Human Rights Committee sent a note to Maldivian government last night regarding Hussain Humam,” said Asim.

He said that the Committee had informed the government that a complaint had been lodged, and had not asked for Maldivian government to take any specific action.

He said that the Committee had, however, requested Maldivian government to delay Humam’s execution.

In answer to a question posed by a reporter, Asim said that the government was considering the UN’s request to delay the execution, and was currently evaluating the notice.

Asim said that the Attorney General’s Office would hold a press conference next week regarding the case.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed noted during the press conference that UN was an organization made up of sovereign nations, and that it had no jurisdiction over the nations to issue such an order.