Let ex-President run, UN Human Rights Committee demands of Maldives

GENEVA (16 April, 2018) – Maldives must restore ex-President Mohamed Nasheed’s right to stand for office, including the office of President, the UN Human Rights Committee concluded in a finding made public today. The finding of violations of human rights was made in response to two individual complaints by Mr. Nasheed filed in 2013 and 2016.    

The full decision is available here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR%2fC%2f122%2fD%2f2270%2f2013&Lang=en

Mr. Nasheed, first brought to a Maldivian court in 2012, was ultimately charged with terrorism and sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment in March 2015.  As a result, he was disqualified from running in presidential elections for 16 years -- the term of his sentence plus an additional three years.

The UN human rights experts found that the judicial proceedings in which Mr. Nasheed was convicted were based on vague legislation, contained serious flaws and violated his right to a fair trial under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). 

The Committee also found that the resulting restrictions on Mr. Nasheed’s right to stand for office violated his rights to political participation under article 25 of the ICCPR. “Political rights can be suspended or restricted only in exceptional circumstances and under certain conditions. And judicial proceedings that violate the right to fair trial can render the resulting restriction of political rights arbitrary,” said Sarah Cleveland, member of the UN Human Rights Committee. 

The Human Rights Committee oversees implementation by States parties of the ICCPR.  Mr. Nasheed was able to make a complaint to the Human Rights Committee because the State Party in question, Maldives, is also a party to the Optional Protocol to that Covenant.

The Committee’s decision of 4 April, which was made public today, further directs Maldives to “quash the author’s conviction, review the charges against him taking into account the present Views, and, if appropriate, conduct a new trial ensuring all fair trial guarantees.”

“As a party to the ICCPR, Maldives is obliged to make full reparation to individuals whose rights have been violated. We have asked Maldives to inform us within 180 days about the measures they have taken to implement our decision,” said Mr. Yuval Shany, Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Committee.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Julia Gronnevet at +41 (0) 22 917 9310 jgronnevet@ohchr.org

Useful links:

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Human Rights Committee individual complaints procedure

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