Global Rights Groups Urge Maldives to Drop Death Penalty Plans for Drug Trafficking
Nine international organizations, including Amnesty International, have urged the Maldives to abandon its plans to implement the death penalty for drug trafficking. The call comes amid renewed government discussions on amending drug laws to introduce capital punishment for such crimes.
The statement, jointly issued by the organizations, warned that enforcing the death penalty for drug-related offenses would violate international human rights standards and run counter to regional and global trends. Most of the Maldives’ neighbors have moved away from capital punishment, particularly for non-violent crimes.
The signatories highlighted that 113 countries have fully abolished the death penalty, and several others have removed it specifically for drug trafficking. They stressed there is no credible evidence showing that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments.
Among the groups lending their voice is the now-dissolved Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), which continues its work overseas after being shut down in 2019 following allegations of publishing material that disrespected Islam.
The statement urged Maldivian authorities to halt proposed amendments that would expand the scope of capital punishment and called on Members of Parliament to reject the changes. It further appealed for all existing death sentences to be commuted without delay.
The organizations argued that introducing the death penalty for drug crimes risks aligning the Maldives with states that pursue extreme punitive measures, eroding the nation’s human rights record. They said that meaningful drug control should focus on health-centered and rights-based policies, addressing the root causes of drug trafficking such as poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.
They also expressed concern that the Maldives already faces challenges in protecting human rights, and that adding capital punishment for drug crimes could deepen these issues.
The government submitted proposals to amend drug trafficking laws to Parliament late last year, where the changes are now under committee review. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has publicly confirmed his intention to see the death penalty applied for drug trafficking during his term.
In December 2023, one month after taking office, Home Minister Ali Ihusan told reporters that the decision to implement capital punishment had been finalized, marking the first public acknowledgment of the policy.
If the Maldives proceeds with the change, it will become the second country in South Asia to actively implement the death penalty for drug trafficking. Singapore currently enforces such laws, while Sri Lanka maintains them on paper but has an informal moratorium on executions.
As the debate continues, the Maldives stands at a crossroads between aligning with the growing global movement to abolish the death penalty and adopting a policy that could draw significant international criticism.