Tariq Ramadan’s appeal for President Yameen to stop imminent execution

In a letter sent to President Yameen on July 5, the renowned Islamic scholar wrote that executing Hussain Humam without the consent of the victim’s family “would contravene the fundamental principles of Islamic law.”

Maldives foreign minister resigns citing opposition to death penalty

Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon has resigned his afternoon, citing opposition to the government’s plans to implement the death penalty.

PPM split a ‘big gift’ to opposition, says Yameen – transcript of speech

If the dispute with his half-brother former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is not resolved, Yameen said the increasingly acrimonious PPM split “will be a big Eid gift to our opposition, or those who would obstruct the development of the Maldives.”

Maldives urged to halt execution by EU, UN rights experts

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has also opposed Humam’s execution without the consent of the victim’s family. “No Islamic state has the right to carry out qisas except as provided in Islam,” he declared in a tweet.

What some people call journalism

The role of ‘journalists’ like the editor of pro-government outlet Avas and the establishments that prop such people up, was crucial in bringing to an end the Maldives’ democratic transition. It is playing an equally crucial role in strengthening the current government’s authoritarianism, writes Azra Naseem.

Maldives forges ahead with preparations for death penalty despite criticism

The government is forging ahead with plans to execute the 22-year-old man convicted of killing MP Afrasheem Ali. The MP’s family, who asked courts to delay the death sentence last week, said they are yet to hear back

Maldives state ready to kill Humam, and a way of life

The noose around Humam’s neck will put an end to not just his life but to two problems the government encounters: rumours of President Yameen’s involvement in Afrasheem’s murder that just won’t die; and accusations that it is not following the path of ‘true Islam’, i.e, Saudi-led Salafi Islam, writes Azra Naseem

Family of murdered MP asks supreme court to delay death penalty for killer

Family members of a murdered MP have asked the supreme court to delay the death penalty for the 22-year-old man convicted of killing him.

Supreme court concludes hearings into its first murder case

The conclusion of an appeal against death sentence on Ahmed Murrath, convicted of killing a prominent lawyer, brings the Maldives a step closer to the first executions by the state in more than half a century.

Maldives to execute death row inmates by hanging

Death row prisoners will be executed within thirty days of the Supreme Court upholding or issuing a guilty verdict, Home Minister Umar Naseer said in an interview on Friday..

Court upholds death sentence for murder accomplice

The high court has upheld today the death sentence of a young woman convicted of killing a prominent lawyer, despite her lawyer insisting the death penalty was disproportionate as she was an accomplice to the murder.

Eight years later, high court overturns murder conviction

The high court overturned today a murder conviction against Fariyash Ahmed, who was serving a life sentence over a killing in 2006. The 28-year-old had escaped from Maafushi Jail in October 2014, but was apprehended days later.

Age-limits, clemency and tuna: excerpts from Yameen’s May 3 speech

Here are excerpts from President Abdulla Yameen’s May 3 speech, in which he defended a constitutional amendment that set age-limits of 30- 65 years for the presidency, dismissed calls to amend clemency laws to facilitate former President Mohamed Nasheed’s release, and alleged that the EU had revoked duty-free status for Maldives tuna over gay rights.

Are we all going to kill Humam?

Hussain Humam was sentenced to death “through a process that has breached the principles of Islamic Shari’a, common law, international obligations and even common sense,” argues Shahindha Ismail, calling for an independent psychiatric evaluation of the 23-year-old death row inmate.

Supreme Court begins review of its first murder conviction

State prosecutors asked the Supreme Court today to uphold a death sentence handed to Hussain Humam Ahmed by the criminal court over the brutal murder of MP Dr Afrasheem Ali in October 2012.

Yameen defends death penalty

When can the Maldives president commute the death penalty?

In a blow to groups urging the Maldives to reinstate a moratorium on the death penalty, the high court has ruled that the president cannot commute the death sentence for individuals convicted of first-degree murder. Judges, however, specified other instances where the president can intervene.

Death chamber, isolation cells, and new jails

The government has earmarked funds in next year’s budget for new jails, a “death chamber” and solitary confinement units at the Maafushi jail, but slashed funding for the human rights watchdog to carry out torture prevention programmes and monitor compliance with international human rights treaties.

Court upholds death sentence for Afrasheem murder convict

Hussain Humam, who was found guilty in January 2013, had appealed his conviction at the appellate court. The five-judge panel at the High Court ruled unanimously today that there were no grounds to overturn the lower court’s verdict.

Maldives defends death penalty and flogging