New Delhi/New York/The Hague, April 3, 2018

The global PGA membership of over 1300 Parliamentarians from 142 Parliaments in all regions of the world condemns the persistent and repeated violations of the fundamental human rights of Parliamentarians that are being committed by the authorities of The Maldives and, in particular, the continued detention of PGA Member, Hon. Ahmed Mahloof, MP, on the basis of frivolous and politically-motivated criminal charges.

Intervening in the parliamentary consultations on addressing inequalities of the criminal justice system and the use of the death penalty held today in the Parliament of India in New Delhi, the Secretary-General of PGA, Dr. David Donat Cattin, regretted the impossibility for the organization to invite Hon. Mahloof as speaker in these consultations and characterized the situation of the violations of human rights of Parliamentarians in the Maldives as “an abuse of power”.

PGA has already expressed concern for the escalation of politically motivated repression of democratic and constitutional rights in The Maldives in several statements, the last one of which was issued on February 15, 2018 which resulted in coercive actions against Members of the opposition and other Lawmakers. However, the current detention of Mr. Mahloof – whose prolonged detention without proper hearings is also in violation of essential procedural rights under domestic and international law, including the right to defense and fair proceedings – raises doubts as to the legality and legitimacy of law-enforcement actions and the delivery of preventive measures in The Maldives.

In particular, it must be emphasized that if anti-terrorism laws would be applied to the case of Mr. Mahloof, PGA would have no hesitation in calling for the International Community to swiftly and unequivocally respond with proportional and appropriate counter-measures under International Law to such a manifest breach of fundamental freedoms and human rights in The Maldives.