Maldives: Stop blaming others for rights record
| Publisher | Amnesty International |
| Publication Date | 13 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Amnesty International, Maldives: Stop blaming others for rights record, 13 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5800c4ff4.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Responding to the announcement that the Maldives government has decided to "leave" the Commonwealth because of criticism of its human rights record, Amnesty International's South Asia Director Champa Patel said:"The Maldives authorities should address their own human rights situation rather than lash out at legitimate criticism.
"Human rights have been in a complete freefall in the country over the past few years. The government has locked up opponents through politically motivated trials and led an unprecedented crackdown on independent media. Authorities have also threatened to end a decades-long moratorium on the death penalty and carry out the first executions in more than 60 years.
"Instead of complaining about unfair treatment, the Maldives government should look at engaging more constructively with the international community."
