Resolution submitted to Parliament calling for the resignation of Dr Shaheed as Rapporteur

A resolution has been submitted to the Parliament, calling for the resignation of Dr Ahmed Shaheed as the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran.

This comes following the 2010 Audit Report of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which exposed several corrupt practices by the Ministry while Dr Shaheed acted as the Minister.

The resolution submitted by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed states that the report exposed several expenses made by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deliberately for the benefit of certain persons. He accused Dr Shaheed of leading these corrupt activities.

The resolution cites the Audit Report and highlights several cases of corruption. This includes that the Foreign Ministry carried out indefinite internship programs at the Foreign Ministry office and at Maldives’ Missions abroad, and that several of the interns were relatives of senior officials of the Ministry; MVR88.5 million was spent on Missions abroad, however, no details or records were kept of these expenditures; MVR140,617 was spent as salaries in addition to the amount assigned for salaries, of which records were lacking for expenditures worth MVR80,503; and salaries and allowances were paid to employees in Missions abroad in violation of the Civil Service Act.

The resolution says that Dr Shaheed should be held responsible for these corrupt practices, and calls for action against him.

“We call for the investigation of these accusations of corruption, and also to take action against Dr Shaheed, who is currently working as a UN Rapporteur through an opportunity provided to the Maldivian State. Moreover, there were accusations against him on a previous occasion in relation to the Kosovo issue. Hence for the sake of the reputation of the Maldives, we call for the removal of Dr Shaheed from him current post,” reads the resolution.

Following this resolution, Dr Shaheed who is currently abroad, told Sun Online in an interview that efforts to defame him by accusing him of corruption will not be successful.

He added that it would not be possible to remove him from the post as Rapporteur, and that the Audit Report did not include any corrupt practices for which he should be held responsible.

He also noted that the current government had supported him in his role as UN Rapporteur earlier this year.