UN calls to Maldives to refrain from employing the death sentence

United Nations called to the Maldives to stick to a decades-long moratorium on imposing the death penalty.

High Commissioner for Human Rights for the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Prince Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein issued a statement today saying that three men are already at risk of being executed.

He raised concerns by saying that it is "deeply regrettable that a series of steps have been taken to resume executions in the country” despite the efforts to end the use of the death penalty in the Maldives.

The UN has previously called to delay the death penalty against Hussain Humaam who was convicted for the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali early last month saying that Humaam did not receive a fair trial.

And later the UN ordered the Maldives to delay the implementation of the sentence following a case submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee by the father of Humaam.

UN gave given the government of the Maldives to respond to the case within six months.

In the first press conference after being assigned as the new Foreign Minister, Dr.Mohamed Asim said that the government is in discussion to follow the UN order to respond to the case. And said that the UN did not ask the government to proceed one way or the other.

The Democracy Network presented to omit some of the articles of the law on murder investigation and implementation of the sentence last month after which a High Court issued an order a temporary seize to Humaam’s death sentence.

However the Supreme Court overruled the order saying that there are no grounds in the law to challenge the implementation of the death penalty at any court of the country.

Supreme Court has so far issued two death sentences: one to Hussain Humaam for the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali and one to Masrooh Ahmed Murrath for the murder of attorney Najeeb.

Amnesty International said it is concerned about the country's "judicial overreach" and its effect on human rights issues as well as its intention to execute those on death row.