The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the Maldives to completely reverse measures that curtail democratic principles and human rights taken under its ongoing state of emergency.
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in his annual report narrated to the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council that actions of the government have undermined the rule of law in the Maldives.
#Maldives: We urge the complete reversal of recent measures undermining the rule of law, following the Govt's declaration of a state of emergency last month which suspended key right & opened the door to completely arbitrary decisions. https://t.co/purrJulkPu #HRC37 @UN_HRC
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) March 7, 2018
Zeid highlighted that key rights have been suspended under the state of emergency, which has allowed the government to make a 'wave of arrests' and the impact the entire situation may have on Maldives' economy.
"This crisis could have drastic effect on the lucrative tourist sector. I urge the complete reversal of these recent measures" Zeid said.
Zeid had previously released a statement on the matter as well, where he calls out centralization of powers in the Maldives, in no uncertain terms.
“The suspension of several functions of the judiciary and parliament, and the restrictions on a series of constitutional rights, create a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of the president” the statement in February said.
His office has also expressed concern on the attack on the press, journalists, and activists in the Maldives.
