Stop drug smuggling without death penalty, Mariya says

Former Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi has criticised President Mohamed Muizzu’s recent statement regarding the introduction of the death penalty for drug traffickers.

Speaking at a gathering at the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) headquarters on Thursday, Mariya said the focus should be on preventing the entry of drugs into the Maldives, rather than resorting to capital punishment. Her comments follow President Muizzu’s announcement on X last Wednesday that he had initiated efforts to amend the law to impose the death penalty on those convicted of drug smuggling and trafficking.

Mariya alleged that the President’s remarks were aimed at gaining political support. She also accused the government of using the Palestinian issue for similar purposes.

She further criticised the current administration for its approach to foreign agreements. Referring to past criticisms by the now-ruling coalition regarding military agreements with India, Mariya said the government's present actions contradict its previous statements.

“They invited senior Indian officials and claimed the previous agreements were extended. If those agreements were active, surveillance could prevent drugs from entering the country. People would not need to be killed,” she said.

Mariya said that the failure to prevent drug smuggling reflects on the government’s responsibilities. She also raised concerns over whether the policy shift was triggered by personal motives.

“People are asking if this policy has re-emerged because the son of a prominent figure has started using drugs,” she said.

She added that public sentiment suggests that government actions are not driven by the will of the people, but rather by the interests of a few.

“It seems that if someone’s son or relative does something, the rest of the country has to face the consequences,” she said.

Mariya also said the government appears to be focused on political appointments and pre-election preparations rather than governance.

“It is always claimed that the government is conducting studies, but nothing substantial is done for the public,” she said.

She alleged that numerous positions have been distributed in preparation for upcoming council elections.

“I would like to tell President Muizzu that no matter how many positions he gives out, the people in those posts are criticising the government’s performance. They are speaking about President Muizzu’s incompetence,” she added.