Resolution submitted to Majlis alleging courts discriminate in setting remand periods
Meekail's resolution alleges courts are discriminating by giving short remand periods for serious crimes while lengthy ones for minor offenses
MP for South Galolhu constituency Meekail Ahmed Naseem speaking at parliament
A resolution has been submitted to the People’s Majlis alleging that courts are deliberately discriminating between individuals rather than safeguarding their rights.
The first reading of the resolution, submitted by MP for South Galolhu constituency, Meekail Ahmed Naseem during Wednesday’s sitting of the People’s Majlis, has been completed.
In the resolution, Meekail asserted that the courts, described as the most important institutions within the Maldivian judicial system, are intentionally discriminating between individuals instead of protecting the rights of the people. He argued that courts are increasingly showing clear bias in cases brought before them.
To illustrate, the resolution cites the case of a young girl found injured on the rooftop of a building in Malé City on the night of 18 April 2025, noting that those arrested in connection with the incident were remanded for only three days.
It also pointed to the peaceful gathering organized by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on October 3 in Malé City, where a large number of citizens participated. The resolution states that police used disproportionate force, arrested many people, and presented them to the Criminal Court, which then ordered 15-day remand periods.
Meekail further noted that on October 27, four individuals arrested for robbing a large sum of money from Bank of Maldives (BML) employees after breaking into Velana International Airport (VIA) were ordered to be remanded for only five days.
Yet, on the same day, an individual arrested for allegedly attempting to leave a café in Malé City without paying the bill, who told the court he acted not with criminal intent but out of hunger, was ordered to be remanded for 10 days.
He argued that individuals arrested on suspicion of serious criminal offenses are receiving short remand periods, while those arrested for minor offenses are handed lengthy ones.
The resolution stated that this departure from equality and justice and the practice of discriminating among citizens, will systematically obstruct the people’s ability to obtain justice.
When submitting the resolution, Meekail also noted that he had submitted an emergency motion on the same issue on October 29, which the Majlis rejected that day.
On October 29, Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, a member of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), decided not to accept the emergency motion.
He maintained that an emergency motion is defined as a matter submitted to draw the government’s attention to a significant issue directly affecting the public or national interest and to criticize government actions or inaction.
He stated that the issue raised by Meekail did not meet those conditions and therefore could not be submitted as an emergency motion.
