U.S. expresses concern over sentencing of minor

The United States has expressed concern over the recent ruling to sentence a Maldivian minor to 100 lashes and up to eight months of house arrest for confessing to consensual relations.

The U.S. Embassy in Colombo noted in a statement that the minor was also a victim of rape, and called upon the government to recognize that she must be protected rather than punished by authorities.

The U.S. also welcomed President Waheed’s statement that the government “will push for a review” of the decision, and urged the Maldivian judiciary to immediately drop all charges against the girl and for the Majlis to enact legislation that protects women and minors who have suffered sexual abuse.

The statement further stated, “Promoting gender equality and advancing the status of all women and girls around the world remains one of the greatest unmet challenges of our time, and one that is vital in all countries to ensure full democratic rights, regardless of culture.”

The United Nations also issued a statement yesterday expressing concern over the sentence of 100 lashes to a minor, and said that “corporal punishment, including flogging, amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or even to torture.”