Chief Justice condemns Pillay

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain has condemned the remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, regarding the Supreme Court of the Maldives.

In a statement issued today, Pillay expressed deep concern about the Supreme Court subverting the democratic process in the Maldives, through repeated interventions in the presidential election process.

The Supreme Court issued a statement tonight, in which Faiz said that Pillay’s remarks regarding the efforts by the Supreme Court to carry out its duties are untrue, and that Pillay did not take into account the facts when making these ‘irresponsible’ remarks.

Faiz said that the remarks, instead of encouraging the efforts to establish democracy and the rule of law in the Maldives, promote a negative image of the Supreme Court both locally and internationally.

He expressed concern over these remarks and said that they are unacceptable.

He said that the Supreme Court is not hostile towards any group, and that regardless of who files a case, the court will undertake proceedings to ensure that the rights of all citizens are protected as per the Constitution, laws and regulations.

Faiz stressed that all member states of the UN, big or small, have equal rights and should be treated equally. He said that the Maldives is an independent sovereign state, and that an official representing the UN making remarks that might deprive the Maldives of these rights, is unacceptable.