The Maldives government has rejected the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee’s conclusion to allow former President Nasheed to participate in the presidential election.
In a press release by the foreign ministry on Monday, the government stated it “is committed to promoting and protecting the rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Maldives and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as per it’s international obligations, and it wholeheartedly refutes that any of these rights have been violated in the case of the former President Nasheed.”
In the press release, the government also accused Nasheed of “having attempted to subvert the course of justice and dismantle the judicial branch of the State, both while in Office and since leaving it”, and stated that he was charged for having ordered the abduction of a sitting judge.
The government also insisted that President Nasheed's political standing had no bearing on the charges against him and his subsequent conviction, and reaffirms that the process was free of any and all political influence.
The Government also noted that Article 109 of the Constitution details the qualifications a person elected as President must hold, and as such, Article 109 (f) states that such a person shall not have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of more than twelve months, unless a period of three years has elapsed since his release, or pardon for the offence for which he was sentenced.
Since Former President Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison on 13 March 2015, he would not be eligible to run for office unless a period of three years has elapsed since his release or pardon.
The Government also stated that Nasheed was granted permission to travel abroad to seek medical treatment and that he has not returned to serve his sentence and therefore remains a fugitive.
For these reasons, Former President Nasheed’s conviction disqualifies him from running in the Presidential elections, for the term of his sentence and for an additional three years, stated the government in the press release.
