While the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has not addressed jailed parliamentarian Ahmed Mahloof’s statement over abuse and frequent unexpected deaths in prison.
MP Mahloof was given two consecutive sentences in July 2016 for obstruction of justice, requiring him to serve 10 months and 24 days in prison. He released a statement last Saturday saying that five inmates had died under unexplained circumstances, and stressed on the importance transparent policies to tackle a host of abuses prisoners face at the Maafushi prison.
The Human Rights Commission Act requires the HRCM to inquire and take appropriate measures whenever it has a reason to believe a person of party is abetting acts that infringe human rights. A clause in the act especially charges the commission to identify and inquire into administrative codes that maybe conducive of such infringement.
When RaajjeMV contacted the commission’s spokesperson, the official said only HRCM’s Vice President Shifaq Mufeed could comment on matters related to prisoners. Shifaq has not answered any phone calls or messages made during and out of office hours, between the 12th and 16th February.
