Maldives foreign minister resigns over death penalty row with govt

Maldives foreign minister Dhunya Maumoon stepped down Tuesday over what she described as a profound differences of opinion with the government’s bid to enforce the death penalty.

In a statement shared with the media, Dunya said the resignation was “one of the most difficult decisions” she has taken.

“Yet, the decision became inevitable because of the profound differences of opinion on the government’s policy in implementing the death penalty at a time when serious questions are being asked, and concerns being expressed, about the delivery of justice in the Maldives,” she said.

“I remain convinced that the Government’s policy on death penalty, decided on a hasty fashion, would be detrimental to the image and reputation of the Maldives and would be a significant obstacle in achieving the President [Abdulla] Yameen’s foreign policy goals, and building a resilient Maldives,” she added.

Maldives overturned a six-decade-old moratorium on capital punishment with the adoption of a new regulation in 2014 that allows for the death penalty to be used to punish certain crimes.

Government had also amended capital punishment law to adopt hanging in addition to lethal injection as a method of execution as it ignored concerns by the opposition and international partners.

Dhunya’s sudden resignation comes in the wake of a widening rift between her father former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and her uncle, incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The rift between the two brothers widened over a government proposed controversial amendment to the Tourism Act.

Shortly before Dunya’s announcement, the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives expelled her brother, MP Faaris Maumoon, for voting against a government tourism bill at Gayoom’s request.

source-http://en.mihaaru.com/maldives-foreign-minister-resigns-over-death-penalty-row-with-govt/