MALDIVES: PARLIAMENT ACCEPTS AMENDMENT TO CLEMENCY ACT TO UPHOLD DEATH SENTENCES

April 18, 2011: The parliament accepted an amendment proposed to the Clemency Act, requiring in Maldives a death penalty issued by the Supreme Court to be executed.
After debating on accepting the bill for three days, 42 out of the 62 members present in the sitting voted in favour of accepting the bill while only 14 members voted against the proposal.
The bill was sent to the parliamentary Social Committee for further analysis.
The amendment proposed by Fares-Maathoda MP, Ibrahim Muththalib, to Article 21 of the Clemency Act stipulates that despite the Act stating otherwise, a death penalty issued by the Supreme Court – or if the Supreme Court upholds a death penalty issued by a lower court or the Higher Court – should be executed.
If the amendment is passed the president will no longer be able to grant clemency to those sentenced to death. (Sources: HNS, Minivan News, 19/04/2011)