Police reject HRCM report misreading claims

Police on Tuesday said that some media outlets have misrepresented the report issued by the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) on prison conditions.

Under the International Convention against Torture, the HRCM conducts annual visits to prisons and publishes a report under the National Preventive Mechanism.

Police said that certain media reports referred to findings from the previous year. These reports stated that prisoners who disobey prison officers are handcuffed and placed in solitary confinement in high-temperature areas. They also referred to concerns that detainees at Dhoonidhoo Jail are handcuffed and kept outside their cells when they fail to follow instructions.

In a statement, police expressed concern over how parts of the report were presented. They said the coverage did not reflect the purpose or the full content of the report, and did not take into account resource limits and operational conditions faced by institutions.

“It is essential to examine matters fully and report news in a responsible manner to provide accurate information to the public,” the statement said.

Police also stated that they recognise the role of independent institutions in strengthening accountability, transparency and the protection of human rights. They noted monitoring efforts aimed at preventing inhuman punishment.

According to the statement, the report identifies system-wide challenges rather than issues limited to a single institution. It added that the findings serve as guidance and recommendations for improvement, and do not determine whether an offence or misconduct has occurred.