ރައީސް ޑރ. މުހައްމަދު މުއިއްޒު
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said he will not back down on enforcing the death penalty despite claims that the judiciary lacks independence and faces internal and external influence.
He said no government had done more to strengthen the judicial system than his administration had so far, and that its actions would match its words. He said he had declared on the day he took office that the judicial system would be independent from that day forward, and that the country's politicians and citizens would be aware of this.
“Whether a court case proceeds or does not proceed, is delayed or expedited, it is not because of a call from the President's Office, as used to happen. Even I learn about some things through the news. Although some people criticise me for that, it is the truth,” the president said.
He said claims that the judicial system lacked independence were an excuse used by every previous government to avoid or delay enforcing the death penalty.
However, the president said retribution for murder was an obligation in Islam, and that in a 100 percent Muslim country such as the Maldives, if a death sentence reached the stage where it must be carried out, the government must do whatever was required of it to enforce the sentence.
“…The fact that previous governments in a 100 percent Muslim country backed down on this issue, citing a lack of independence in (the judiciary) and external and internal influences, is no reason for me to back down. This is an obligation upon me,” the president said.
Comments