Home Minister Imran Abdulla has said that the Maldives still has a policy of continuing the moratorium on implementation the death penalty.
Imran made the statement when questioned by Parliament member for Mahibadhoo constituency Ahmed Thoriq at the People's Majlis today regarding the government's policy in implementing the death penalty for inmates who have completed all procedures to implement the death penalty.
In response to the question, Imran said that for the past half-century, all governments have followed the policy of maintaining the moratorium.
"This is not a new policy introduced by this government. This is what has been done in Maldives for a long time," Imran said.
He said that although several previous administrations have spoken on several occasions in connection with the death penalty for political purposes, no changes have been made to the policy.
Former President Abdulla Yameen's administration had maintained the moratorium without implementing the death penalty as well, Imran said.
There are currently three people on death row. That's Hussain Humam Ali, for murdering Dr. Afrasheem Ali, Ahmed Murath for murdering lawyer Mohamed Najeeb, and Mohamed Nabeel for murdering Abdulla Faruhadh.
Even though Supreme Court had upheld all three death penalties in 2016, no action has been taken to implement it.
In 2015, a regulation to implement death penalty was established. It stated that the death penalty would be carried out by hanging or through injections.
The death penalty was last enforced in Maldives in 1953, by firing squad.
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