Maldives tables Penal Code amendment making genocide a criminal offence: AG Usham

MALE, Maldives — The Maldives government has submitted amendments to the Penal Code to criminalise genocide, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said, dismissing what he called false information circulating on social media about the proposed changes. In a social media post, Usham said the amendment was tabled to fulfil the Maldives' obligations under the Genocide Convention, which the Maldives joined on 24 April 1984. Article 5 of the convention requires states parties to enact laws and provide effective penalties for genocide offences, he noted. However, Usham said the Maldives had failed to carry out that obligation for 42 years, and that this undermines the legal positions the Maldives has taken at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Maldives has intervened in the ICJ cases The Gambia v. Myanmar and South Africa v. Israel, where it has called for accountability and strong action against countries committing genocide, he said. The bill, submitted to the People's Majlis by Maafannu Dhekunu constituency MP Abdullah Rifau on behalf of the government, would classify genocide as a first-degree felony, with a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years. Under the bill, killing members of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting destructive living conditions, and forcibly transferring children to another group would be offences. Direct and public incitement to commit genocide would also be a crime.