It was included in today’s (Friday) sermon that the President does not have the authority to grant clemency for convicts who are sentenced to death.
Imams all over the Maldives said that convicts must be executed once they are sentenced to death by the court, and that the only people who can pardon them are the victim’s heirs.
They stressed that it is the President’s responsibility to ensure that the death penalty is implemented, if it is asked for by the victim’s heirs.
They also noted that hesitating to implement the death penalty for fear or what powerful countries might say, or what human rights activists might say, is not allowed in Islam.
The Imams advised to refrain from criticizing such holy decrees in Islamic Sharia, and said that implementation of the death penalty will bring about joy, peace and prosperity for the society.