Maldives: As new government takes power, civil society calls for reforms including ending impunity for crimes against journalists

The state of civic space is rated as ‘obstructed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. Over the last few years there have been reports of harassment and threats to journalists, arbitrary arrests and excessive force against protesters, restrictions on protest and threats against human rights defenders, both offline and online, including women activists. The government has also failed to deal effectively with past crimes.

On 30th September 2023, Mohamed Muizzu from the Progressive Alliance coalition won the presidential election in the Maldives after a second-round run-off against incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and was inaugurated on 17th November. Muizzu, who was the mayor of the capital Male, promised that if he won the presidency he would remove Indian troops from the Maldives and balance the country’s trade relations, which he claimed were heavily in India’s favour.

A day after being sworn in, President Muizzu officially requested that India withdraw its military personnel from the archipelago.

Around the elections, human rights groups urged the new government to undertake human rights reforms. In September 2023, FORUM-ASIA and CIVICUS called upon all candidates and political parties to pledge their commitment to upholding and safeguarding civic freedoms as an integral part of their electoral mandates. Amnesty International issued a seven-point agenda including to protect fundamental freedoms, the environment, the rights of prisoners, abolish the death penalty and ensure gender equality.

In November 2023, Human Rights Watch also called on the new President to strengthen and enforce environmental laws to protect island communities, amend the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act and the Evidence Act in line with international human rights standards, repeal the Maldives’ 2014 Penal Code provisions that criminalise same-sex conduct, enact critical legislative reforms to strengthen judicial independence, and provide long-awaited accountability for past crimes.

Expression

Civil society groups concerned around impunity for crimes against journalists

In November 2023, civil society groups called for an end to impunity for crimes against journalists in the Maldives.

The Maldives Journalists’ Association (MJA), Transparency Maldives, Association for Democracy in the Maldives (ADM), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a statement on 29th November 2023 urging the government of the Maldives to expedite investigations and for the relevant authorities to pursue, where evidence permits, prosecutions to end impunity for serious crimes against journalists in the Maldives.

The groups said they were ‘deeply concerned’ that the criminal court, on 22nd November 2023, dropped charges against the accused - Ismail Abdul Raheem and Ahmed Muaz - in the murders of journalist Ahmed Rilwan and blogger Yameen Rasheed. They noted that in previous court proceedings for the charges filed in these years-old cases, the court has pointed out the negligence on the part of the investigating agencies and prosecutors.

The groups said that the charges filed against alleged perpetrators, after years of investigation, were thrown out by the court citing lack of enough evidence to prosecute the cases, raising serious questions about the work and decisions made by the investigating authorities during these years. They highlighted that the details of the investigations are not publicised and other details are hushed up, leading to a total lack of transparency from investigating agencies.

The groups called on the relevant prosecutorial authorities to publish complete information and reports on the investigation conducted by the Commission on Deaths and Disappearances from 2018-2023; swiftly and urgently, complete the investigation process in the above-mentioned cases and prosecute perpetrators without delay. They also called for the launch of fresh investigations into the agencies and individuals whose negligence from the beginning of these cases to the current stages has caused irreparable damage to the investigation.

Peaceful Assembly

Peaceful protests in support of Palestine

Following the breakout of the Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023, multiple protests were held in the Maldives in support of the Palestinian people.

Protests were held on 13th October 2023. According to Rajje news outlet, the rally, titled “Dhivehinge Bodu Evvun” which translates as “Gathering of Maldivians” was held in the Artificial Beach region of the capital Malé City as part of the “Maldives with Palestine” national campaign initiated by Isra Association and the International Aid Campaign (AIC).

A large crowd of Maldivians including Cabinet Ministers, high ranking officials of government and state institutions as well as the public gathered in the Maldives capital to show their solidarity with the people of Palestine. Several civic groups participated in the event including IAC, Isra Organization, Mahaldheeb Foundation, Jamiyyathul Akhawaadh, Maldives Turkiyé Foundation and ‘Heyo Bingaa’.

On 20th October 2023, the Maldives Journal reported that a peaceful protest organised by the Right Movement took place in the capital city of Male. The march was attended by thousands of people, women and children leading the way, while men followed closely behind. The demonstrators came together near the Social Centre, with messages that they stood with the Palestinian people and are determined not to leave them alone in their struggle. The rally participants called for a boycott of Israel and a ban on Israeli passports within the Maldives.

Many of those taking part in the march carried Palestinian flags and held signs bearing various slogans denouncing Israeli actions and expressing unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine. Other protests were also held in November 2023.

No restrictions were reported as opposed to opposition protests held during the year, where there were restriction on protests and excessive use of force by the police.