MP: Criminals should not be allowed to run for Majlis

North Kulhudhuffushi MP, Abdul Gafoor Moosa has declared changes need to be made to law to ban ex-cons who have committed major crimes from being eligible to run for seats in People’s Majlis.

During the debate on bill to amend eligibility criteria for local council elections, MP Gafoor said people elected to political positions as servants of the people should not be criminals.

Law currently allows anyone who has committed a crime to run for People’s Council three years after completion of his/her sentence.

“People who come to political positions should not be criminals. They should be ethical and honorable,” said Gafoor.

He said that “we cannot take a step backwards” and argued that eligibility criteria for both local council positions and People’s Majlis positions should have a ban on ex-cons.

Meanwhile, bill to amend eligibility criteria for local council membership has been passed by People's Majlis after adjustments by National Security Committee of People’s Majlis, limiting the ban on ex-cons only to rapists and pedophiles.

Anyone convicted of a narcotics related offense will be allowed to run for local council elections seven years after completion of sentence or clemency. And anyone sentenced to more than 12 months in prison for any other offense will be allowed to run for local council membership three years after completion of sentence.