Sexual harassment of detained women protesters must be investigated: Amnesty

Amnesty International has said that Maldives authorities should immediately investigate the claims by four women detained during an anti-government protest, that they were beat and sexually harassed by the Police.

A statement released by Amnesty International today reads, “According to testimony gathered by Amnesty International, the women, who were arrested on 19 March, were beaten during and after their arrest.”

While in detention, the women were allegedly forced to strip and squat several times, and the Police also checked their bodies for concealed drugs in their genitals.

"The government of Maldives must ensure that these allegations are investigated and that those found to be responsible are brought to justice,” reads the statement.

They also said that Maldives Police had denied the allegations of sexual harassment of women, and had urged victims to ask Maldives Human Rights Commission (HRCM) to investigate their allegations.

However, HRCM had informed Amnesty International that such cases cannot be investigated due to limitations in terms of trained staff.

Police Media Official Hassan Haneef said regarding the statement that Maldives Police are professional and uphold rules and regulations. If a search was to be conducted on a person, this would be done within the limits of existing rules and regulations.

“We are a professional organisation. We keep our actions professional; that is how we are trained. Whether it is conducting a search or making an arrest, we use minimum force, and do these things within the limits of rules and regulations,” Haneef said.

He added that in the event that a strip search is required, it will be carried out, but within the limits of the rules.

“Strip searches will be conducted when necessary. But it will be conducted according to standards and rules. We do not harass,” Haneef said.

Several women were among those arrested following the protests conducted by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on 19 March to obstruct the opening session of the Parliament.