Maumoon: Against enforcing death penalty for any reason

Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom states he is against enforcing the death penalty in the Maldives for any reason.

In a post on X on Sunday, Maumoon said an educated person must not make such remarks just to garner public support.

The remark comes after Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan, in a press briefing, said that the administration was making preparations to enforce the death penalty. No further details on the matter have been disclosed by the government.

Maumoon has previously spoken out against enforcing the death penalty. In this regard, he said enforcement of the death penalty is not a national development goal. During his tenure, Maumoon had pardoned many convicts who were sentenced to death, or commuted their sentences.

Maldives has had a de facto moratorium on the death penalty in place since 1954, although with multiple convicts on death row.

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had announced plans to enforce the death penalty during his administration – but faced legal hurdles and international pressure.

He later said that while he supports the enforcement of the death penalty, the Maldivian public has doubts about the fairness of the investigative and judicial process.

His successor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated he did not wish to enforce the death penalty.