Parliament removes controversial Penal Code amendment from agenda

A government-sponsored bill seeking to criminalise genocide, acts threatening the Maldives' economic security and treason has been removed from Parliament's agenda after initially being scheduled for consideration on Tuesday.

The proposed amendment to the Penal Code was submitted on behalf of the government by Maafannu South MP Abdulla Rifau of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC).

The bill seeks to introduce provisions criminalising acts that threaten the state's economic security, treason and genocide, including offences targeting groups based on nationality, ethnicity, race or religion.

The first reading of the bill, which was submitted on Sunday, had been scheduled for Tuesday's parliamentary sitting.

However, it was subsequently removed from the agenda. The reason for its removal has not been disclosed.

The development follows criticism of the proposed legislation, with opponents alleging that its provisions could be used to restrict protests against the government's Ras Malé development agreement with UAE-based Eagle Hills.

Following media reports detailing the proposed amendments on Monday, critics accused the government of introducing legislation intended to penalise opponents of the Ras Malé project.

Some have linked the proposed provisions on offences targeting national and religious groups to criticism of Eagle Hills chairman Mohamed Alabbar over his alleged connections with Israel.

They have argued that the legislation could be used to restrict criticism directed at Alabbar, Eagle Hills and Israel.

Critics have also questioned whether the proposed economic security offences could be used against individuals and groups campaigning against the allocation of reclaimed land in Ras Malé to Eagle Hills.

The government has faced opposition over its agreement to allocate 500 hectares of reclaimed land to the UAE-based company.

Responding to criticism on Monday night, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said the proposed genocide provisions were necessary to fulfil the Maldives' obligations under international law.

Usham said the absence of legislation criminalising genocide could affect the legal arguments presented by the Maldives in proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Maldives became a party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in April 1984.

According to Usham, the convention requires participating countries to enact domestic legislation criminalising genocide and establishing penalties for related offences.

He said the Maldives had not fulfilled this obligation despite joining the convention more than four decades ago.

Usham argued that the country's failure to introduce such legislation could weaken its legal position when calling on other countries to comply with the convention.

The proposed bill also includes provisions criminalising acts that could cause substantial damage to the national economy, including interference with essential services, infrastructure and major revenue-generating sectors.

The removal of the bill from Tuesday's agenda means its first reading will not proceed as originally scheduled. It remains unclear when Parliament will take up the proposed legislation.