President announces clemency plan for all prisoners except “extremely serious offenders”
20 Mar 2014, 3:08 PM
Mariyath Mohamed
President Abdulla Yameen has announced that he will grant clemency to all prisoners except those convicted for extremely serious crimes, including murder and terrorism.
“On the first of April, I will grant the highest form of clemency possible to all prisoners convicted for crimes other than the most serious ones,” Yameen stated on Wednesday night, speaking at a political rally held in Fuvahmulah.
Yameen stated that his administration wishes to re-introduce youth prisoners into society under a rehabilitation program. The government has therefore decided to grant clemency to all non-serious offenders who are currently in prison, he added.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have described the move as “irresponsible”, and a “political stunt”.
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