Draft legislation on capital punishment near completion

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the government is preparing legislation to enable the implementation of capital punishment in the Maldives.

The President made the statement on Monday during a press conference held at the President’s Office.

Under the current legal framework, a death sentence can only be carried out after the completion of all stages of the judiciary. Although three individuals have had their death sentences upheld through all judicial levels, capital punishment has not been carried out in recent years.

The President stated that the matter should be addressed through legislation rather than regulations or administrative measures.

He said the Attorney General’s Office is drafting a bill to facilitate the implementation of death sentences, and that the process is nearing completion.

“The Attorney General’s Office is in the process of drafting a specific bill to enable the execution of death sentences. This bill is now nearing completion,” he said.

The President added that the government intends to submit the bill to the People’s Majlis during its current session.

He also stated that the decision to carry out a death sentence should not depend on the discretion of the Head of State once the judicial process has been completed.

“It is not a choice for the Head of State to withhold the execution of a death sentence for an individual whose judicial process has reached its finality,” he said.