Maldives slams UK-led criticism of human rights situation

The appeals came at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday in a statement delivered by the UK on behalf of more than 30 countries including the United States and Germany.

The Western countries welcomed the government’s avowed commitment to ensure justice for the brutal murder of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed – whose father was present at the opening of the council’s 35th session in Genea – and called for “steps to prevent the intimidation of human rights defenders including by those promoting violent extremism.”

The statement noted that Yameen had “repeatedly drawn attention to the threats he was facing” and “visited this council to raise awareness of the shrinking space for freedom of expression, as well as the abduction and disappearance of fellow blogger Ahmed Rilwan, whose fate remains unknown.”