Amendment to exclude minors from capital punishment proposed

An amendment has been proposed to the Juvenile Justice Act of the Maldives so that children under the age of 18, who have committed an act of murder cannot be given capital punishment. 

Hinnavaru MP Jeehan Mahmood proposed the amendment. She also proposed repealing some articles of the act in addition to the removal of capital punishment. 

Her amendment read that if found guilty of murder for an act committed below the age of 18, the individual cannot be given capital punishment. 

Her amendment also read that capital punishment crimes for any crime under any law, should not be used if the individual is a minor and should be given ¾ of the next biggest punishment instead. The amendments also read that judges should opt for house arrest after taking into account all of the conditions and circumstances regarding the case. 

The amendments were because such detention of institutionalization away from the family could lead to a negative impact on the minor and would be in that minor’s best interest if they were placed under house arrest with their family.