British FCO urges better adherence to democratic principles ahead of 2018 presidential elections
The report highlights how the government sponsored Defamation and Freedom of Expression Act restricts freedoms and has been used to prosecute members of the opposition
Opposition supporters barred by officers of the police during a demonstration against opposition leader Qasim Ibrahim's arrest
The United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office has criticized the Maldivian government in its Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2016, encouraging greater ‘democratic space’ in the presidential elections slated for 2018.
The report, which was published on Thursday, highlights how the government sponsored Defamation and Freedom of Expression Act restricts freedoms and has been used to prosecute members of the opposition.
“Several journalists were arrested and news organisations raided, threatened or closed down. The Freedom of Assembly Act passed in August restricts the right of assembly, and has been criticised as being unconstitutional” the report says.
It further expressed concern over the government’s focus on ending Maldives’ 60-year moratorium on the death penalty, particularly noting how local courts have passed death sentences against three minors thus far. The report said that this was in breach of Maldives’ international obligations.
“The UK continued to engage with the Government of Maldives to raise human rights concerns, including on the death penalty, rule of law and the shrinking democratic space” the office continues in its report.
It had also further said that the FCO has made attempts to ensuring adherence to standards of human rights and democratic principles in the country, including having funded a conference for Human Rights Day in December.
