Moosa Anwar to file case against gender quota for local council seats

A case has been filed at the Supreme Court against the gender quota determined for the council of Addu City-Hithadhoo.

The case submitted by the former youth wing leader of the Jumhooree Party, Moosa Anwar, requests the Supreme Court to dismiss the decision of the Elections Commission (EC) to reserve seats on the council for women and subsequently preventing men from contesting. He added that the decision was based on a un-just law.

He went on to highlight the fact that the current councillor, Jamsheeda Mohamed, is a woman that won the seat after competing against men.

Moreover, he claimed that allocating gender quotas by choosing the constituencies through a draw is "a joke" as it prevents the fundamental right of the people to freely choose their leaders.

EC allocated 12 seats for women in three city councils during early December. The announcement comes in line with the government’s decision to apportion 33% of council seats to women under the amendments to the decentralization of administrative divisions, as part of their work to ensure gender equality.

As such, the constituency of Addu City 3 located in Hithadhoo, of which Moosa is a native, has been allocated for women.

To support his argument, Moosa Anwar cited article 26(b) and (c) of the constitution which states that every citizen over 18 years of age has the right to run for public office and take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, respectively.

Although Moosa, who currently resides in the United Kingdom, has expressed intent to submit the case, he has not announced when the case will be filed.