The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed media reports which suggested the United Nations had ordered the Maldives’ Government not to implement the death penalty.
Dr. Mohamed Asim, meeting the media for the first time after his appointment as the Foreign Minister, said the United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR) had notified the government about a complaint filed with the council regarding the conviction and death sentence issued against Hussein Humam for the murder of the late lawmaker Dr. Afrasheem Ali.
He however said the OHCHR has yet to make any statement regarding the case. Foreign Ministry is now reviewing the case submitted to the OHCHR, he said.
The new Foreign Minister also stressed that it was not the mandate of the world body to issue orders against any member state, and dismissed media reports which suggested the UN body had ordered the Maldives’ government not to implement the death penalty.