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Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Abdulla Shahid has met with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, to express his concerns over "the troubling democratic backslide in the Maldives".
In a post shared on X, Shahid said he raised issues including the assault on the Judiciary, the hijacking of parliamentary checks and balances, the suppression of independent commissions and media, and the government's ongoing violations of the Constitution with complete impunity.
“...I also shared the remarkable courage of our youth, who are standing up against the brutality of the current regime,” Shahid wrote.
The meeting comes amid growing international scrutiny over judicial independence in Maldives. The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) has also issued a statement expressing concern about actions targeting Supreme Court judges.
In its statement, the CLA urged the Maldivian government to refrain from taking any measures against members of the judiciary without due process. The association stressed that any disciplinary actions must be based on clear evidence and follow proper legal procedures.
“CLA calls on the Committee and Parliament to heed the constitutional and statutory requirements for the removal of judges, and further to respect and adhere to robust international standards for the protection of judicial independence,” the statement read.
The CLA affirmed its commitment to continue monitoring the situation and working closely with the Bar Council of Maldives and other international organizations to protect the rule of law in the country.
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