Parliament approves appointment of Shammoon Hameed to HRCM
26 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ބުދަ 11:59Although Parliament has granted approval for the appointment of Shammoon Hameed to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), opposition members have raised concerns regarding the committee's evaluation process. Critics allege political influence, pointing out that candidates with specialized education in human rights received lower scores than those from unrelated fields.
Shammoon Hameed: The People's Majlis has granted its approval to appoint him to the vacant seat on the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM). | Social Media
The Parliament has granted approval to appoint Shammoon Hameed, of H. Meenaaz, as a member of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).
The Human Rights and Gender Committee of the People's Majlis has reviewed the nomination submitted by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to fill a vacancy at the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).
According to the committee's report, Shammoon Hameed (H. Meenaaz) secured the top position with a score of 92 percent. Samaau Ahmed Najib (Asege, GDh. Thinadhoo) followed in second place with a score of 86 percent. Samaau is an experienced professional in the field and currently serves as a member of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).
Opposition members have criticized the matter, stating that it highlights a loss of independence and autonomy within independent institutions and exposes the presence of political influence. Furthermore, opposition members emphasized that prioritizing individuals with relevant education and experience when appointing members to vital bodies such as the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) is essential to maintaining the institution's integrity and public trust.
In this regard, the Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency, Hussain Ziyad, severely criticized the methodology used by the committee in awarding marks.
Ziyad stated that while 20 marks are allocated for position-related education, the individual who topped the list with a score of 92 percent holds a Master’s degree in music. In contrast, the candidate who attained a Master’s degree in Human Rights Law received a score of only 86 percent.
Ziyad alleged that the underlying reason for such an outcome is the effort to appoint individuals whose names appear on a specific list sent by the President's Office.
During Wednesday's parliamentary sitting, Shammoon Hameed was unanimously approved with 57 votes in favor from all members present.
