Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) today met with the mother of the infant to gather information required for its investigation into how the Ministry of Social and Family Development acted in taking the newborn into state care.

HRCM told "Mihaaru News" that a team from the commission visited the island where the mother resides today, meeting with relevant institutions and individuals connected to the case to gather information and documentation necessary for the investigation.

"In that regard, [we] met with [the child's mother] and obtained much of the information required for the investigation today," the commission said.

It is learned that HRCM President Dr. Aishath Rameela also accompanied the commission's team.

HRCM stated that the work of its team will continue on that island as well as in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi tonight and tomorrow.

To investigate the Family Ministry's actions in taking the child into state care, HRCM also entered the ministry's office today with a search warrant. It is learned that the team is still operating inside the ministry as all required documents have not yet been obtained.

The search warrant, issued pursuant to Articles 20, 21, and 22 of the Human Rights Commission Act, which grant powers to investigate issues, authorizes access from 9:00 AM today until 11:59 PM tomorrow night.

With the warrant, commission members and staff entered the ministry today to collect information required for the investigation.

The Human Rights Commission Act grants HRCM the authority to investigate matters upon receiving complaints regarding human rights violations, or on its own initiative.

When the child was taken into state care, the mother was the one who raised questions and expressed concern on social media. The 25-year-old mother stated that the state took her child citing her mental health issues and a physical disability in her hand as reasons. She also stated that the infant was taken on the third day after birth against her will.

As this issue went viral on social media, many raised questions regarding the reasons for taking the child into state custody. Based on the mother's account published online, criticism has been directed at how the Family Ministry handled the situation.

However, the ministry stated that it acted in accordance with the law in taking the child into state care, and that a child is taken in such a manner only when safety and protection cannot be guaranteed by the family.

The ministry stated that providing necessary protection to children is a state responsibility, noting that Article 35 of the Constitution guarantees children and young persons the right to special protection and assistance from their families, the community, and the state.

The Child and Family Protection Service sent a letter to the family outlining the reasons for taking the child into state custody. According to the letter, the child was taken because safety concerns had been reported to the agency.

The letter noted that the living environment of the mother, who gave birth out of wedlock, her mental condition, her physical hand disability, and the lack of familial support were the reasons why the state had to take the child.