Parliament backs Shafeeq for appointment to HRCM

The Parliament on Monday provided its backing to Mohamed Shafeeq Mahmood for appointment as a member of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM).

He secured the Parliament’s backing with a unanimous vote of 65 on Monday afternoon.

Shafeeq previously served in high-ranking roles in the government and government-owned companies, including as CEO of Local Government Authority (LGA), managing director of Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), and CEO of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

Shafeeq was among two candidates nominated by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to replace two commissioners whose term is set to expire on September 8; HRCM’s vice president Mumina Waheed and member Aminath Shifaath Abdul Razzaq.

While the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee greenlit Shafeeq’s appointment, they blocked that of the second nominee - Mohamed Faris Thaha – citing a domestic violence allegation.

During a committee interview on Saturday, Faris was questioned regarding an allegation that he was abusive towards a former spouse, leading to the dissolution of their marriage and his dismissal from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).

Faris denied the allegation against him, saying that he was never implicated in such a case.

But despite his denial, the committee gave a lower score than the 75 points required to pass interviews.

Faris’ former spouse, Aminath Hussain Shareef, a state minister at the Fisheries Ministry, later gave media interviews, also denying the allegation that he was abusive towards her during their marriage.