Maldives moves toward ending decades-long death penalty moratorium
Government prepares law to enforce executions after Supreme Court rulings, marking major legal shift in Indian Ocean nation
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives is moving closer to reinstating capital punishment after decades of non-enforcement, with the government preparing new legislation to implement the death penalty for convicted prisoners.
President Mohamed Muizzu said on Monday that the Attorney General’s Office is in the final stages of drafting a bill to establish a formal legal framework for carrying out executions. The proposed law is expected to be submitted to parliament during the current legislative session.
Speaking to reporters, Muizzu said several prisoners on death row have already exhausted the appeals process, with their sentences upheld by the Supreme Court. He emphasized that enforcing capital punishment requires a comprehensive legal structure rather than relying on administrative regulations.
The Maldives has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1954, despite courts continuing to issue death sentences in serious criminal cases. The absence of a clear legal mechanism for implementation has effectively prevented the state from carrying out executions for decades.
The renewed push to enforce the death penalty reflects a broader policy shift under Muizzu’s administration, which first signaled its intention to revive capital punishment in 2023.
A similar effort had previously been initiated under former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, but was not ultimately implemented.
Analysts say the move could have significant legal and diplomatic implications, particularly as international human rights organizations have long opposed the use of capital punishment and have urged countries to maintain moratoriums or abolish the practice altogether.
If enacted, the legislation would mark one of the most consequential changes to the Maldives’ criminal justice system in decades, potentially ending one of the world’s longest-standing informal pauses on executions.
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