UN Human Rights Committee has called on the Government of Maldives to delay implementing death penalty on Hussain Humam Ahmed, the individual given the death sentence, in connection to the murder of Parliamentarian Dr. Afrasheem Ali.

In a letter sent by the Committee, signed by Chair Ibrahim Salama, to Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur, the Committee reminded the Government of Maldives to delay implementing the sentence, as the case was still under review in the Committee.

The case was submitted to the Committee under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Humam was first charged on the murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali on 10^th January 2013. In the hearings held on January 20, 2013 Humam had denied the charges and confessed to it in the trail held on May 22^nd. He later recanted his statement, denying that he did it.

He was sentenced on January 16, 2014. High Court upheld the verdict on September 7, 2015 and was upheld by Supreme Court on June 24, 2016.