SC Justice Husnu Al Suood resigns, accuses Pres. Muizzu of constitutional violations

Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al Suood has resigned in protest of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's alleged influence on the judiciary of the Maldives, which he claims is in violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives.

In a letter addressed to President Muizzu dated 4 March 2025, Suood stated that the amendment to Article 73 of the Constitution, brought about by the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution Act, was determined by the Supreme Court to be within its jurisdiction to review. He claimed that this amendment was unconstitutional and in violation of the principles and foundations of the 2008 Constitution. Suood further stated that in order to prevent the Supreme Court from hearing this case, three Supreme Court justices were suspended, and the People’s Majlis passed a bill to reduce the number of Supreme Court justices.

Suood's letter pinned allegations against the incumbent administration of President Muizzu for threatening all the court's justices in an unconstitutional attempt to influence the case.

Suood said he was resigning from his position as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Maldives in protest of the ongoing attempts to influence the case and pressure the court to decide the matter as President Muizzu desires.

While a sitting Supreme Court Justice, who was part of the bench hearing the ongoing case, has accused President Muizzu of unconstitutionally influencing the case and threatening the justices, it's worth noting that on the day Muizzu assumed office, he declared in his address to the nation that "the era of meddling with the courts ends now."

On February 26, Supreme Court Justices Husnu Al Suood, Mahaz Ali Zahir, and Dr. Azmiralda Zahir were abruptly suspended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The sudden suspension of three Supreme Court justices occurred while lawyers were present at the court, waiting for a hearing on a case seeking a temporary order to prevent the loss of parliamentary seats for members who leave or are expelled from their political parties. This case was related to a constitutional amendment that would cause members to lose their seats under such circumstances, and the temporary order was sought to maintain their seats until a decision could be made on the amendment.