Maldives says president won't influence judiciary after Supreme Court dismissals

Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel said on Saturday that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu will not interfere with the judiciary, following the dismissal of two Supreme Court justices by Parliament.

Parliament on Wednesday voted to remove Justices Mahaz Ali Zahir and Azmiralda Zahir, triggering responses from international organisations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, and other legal bodies. These organisations issued statements before the vote, calling for the dismissal motions to be withdrawn unless the justices were given full rights to defend themselves.

This marks the first time the Foreign Minister has addressed the international response since the parliamentary decision. In an X post directed at the Commonwealth and its leadership, Dr Khaleel reiterated that the President had not influenced the judiciary.

He noted that the justices were removed following an investigation by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and a vote in Parliament. Dr Khaleel added that President Muizzu is committed to maintaining the separation and independence of the executive and judiciary.

The Minister also said that the statements by international organisations were based on information provided by the opposition. He expressed hope that opposition political leaders would provide accurate accounts of the events to the international community.

The JSC submitted the impeachment motion alleging that Justice Azmiralda Zahir and Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir influenced a decision by the Criminal Court related to the arrest and detention of Azmiralda's husband, IGMH doctor Ismail Latheef, in connection with an incident at a massage parlour.