Citizens’ indifference risks rendering constitutional rights powerless: Suood

Former Supreme Court Justice Husnu Al Suood has warned that the rights guaranteed in the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives risk becoming meaningless if citizens remain passive and indifferent. His remarks were delivered during a special ceremony held to launch his two new publications, “Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Citizens” and “Calculation of Zakat on Wealth”.

Suood emphasized that the constitution is not a self-executing document. He argued that its effectiveness is entirely dependent on the vigilance and active engagement of the people it is designed to protect. He went on to caution that without this active participation, the constitution's promises are reduced to little more than words on paper.

He stressed that the constitution only comes to life through the efforts of citizens. It is through public action and civic responsibility that constitutional rights are upheld and safeguarded. Apathy, in contrast, threatens to hollow out these rights, leaving them unenforced and unprotected.

Suood also shed light on the concept of sovereign power and its relationship to the state. He described sovereign power as the force that holds a state together, asserting its role as the fundamental glue that binds a nation. However, he noted that this power, if left unchecked, can become dangerous and oppressive.

According to Suood, one of the most effective mechanisms for restraining sovereign power is the constitution itself. The act of drafting a constitution, he said, serves to limit and divide this power, breaking it into separate branches to prevent its concentration in the hands of a single individual or entity. He warned that without such checks, sovereign power can easily become centralized and detrimental to democratic governance.

He further emphasized that every right inscribed in the constitution is intended for implementation, not symbolic recognition. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of citizens to uphold and defend these rights, ensuring that the constitution remains a living, functional framework for justice and governance.