Maaroof Accuses Government of Selectively Using International Law to Justify Penal Code Amendments

Ahmed Maaroof, a member of the legal committee of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has criticised the government for suddenly invoking international law only when it needs to justify a controversial action. His remarks came in response to Deputy Speaker Ahmed Usham's defence of the government's proposed amendments to the Penal Code (Qanoonul Uqoobathu), which aim to criminalise genocide and set a harsh penalty for the crime. Usham had argued that the amendments are necessary to align with the Genocide Convention and other international obligations of the Maldives. However, Maaroof pointed out that the government had ignored numerous other international law obligations, including the right to a fair trial, when it removed several Supreme Court judges. He stated that the sudden importance given to international law is politically motivated, questioning why the government did not act earlier on many other international commitments that remain unfulfilled. Maaroof's comments highlight the ongoing political dispute over the proposed changes to the penal code, which some critics say are aimed at silencing opposition to the Rasmalé project and stifling dissent against Jewish people.