The Drugs Act Amendment Bill was originally tabled in Parliament late last year. While the initial draft reportedly included provisions for the death penalty, those clauses were omitted by the time it was officially sent to Parliament.
The Maldivian government has announced plans to revise the country’s Drugs Act to introduce the death penalty for individuals convicted of smuggling drugs into the island nation. The move, which signals a dramatic shift in criminal justice policy, was confirmed by Attorney General Ahmed Usham on Thursday.
Usham stated that the revised legislation is being finalized and will be submitted to Parliament within the current legislative session. “We are working to finalize the amendments and resubmit the revised version to Parliament within a week,” he said, confirming that key state agencies, including the Maldives Police Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office, have already provided their input.
The Drugs Act Amendment Bill was originally tabled in Parliament late last year. While the initial draft reportedly included provisions for the death penalty, those clauses were omitted by the time it was officially sent to Parliament. However, in a major policy shift, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced Wednesday night that he wants harsher penalties reinstated, including capital punishment for drug traffickers.
In a post shared on the social media platform X, President Muizzu said his administration intends to follow the lead of several other nations that impose the death penalty for drug-related crimes. “Our objective is to create a drug-free generation and protect society from the devastating impacts of narcotics,” the President wrote.
Under current Maldivian law, drug trafficking is punishable by life imprisonment and fines ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million (approximately USD 6,500 to USD 650,000). The death penalty is currently legal only for crimes such as intentional homicide, terrorism, treason, apostasy, and adultery. Although multiple inmates are on death row, Maldives has not carried out an execution since 1953, effectively maintaining a de facto moratorium.
Adherence to International Standards
Yet the winds may be shifting. On December 20, 2023, just one month after taking office, Home Minister Ali Ihusan announced the government’s intent to resume executions. Speaking to local media, he stated that the administration would take all necessary steps to implement the death penalty in line with national laws and international norms. Nearly a year later, he reaffirmed this commitment, noting that preparations were underway.
“Due to the irreversible nature of capital punishment, all judicial processes must be exhausted,” Ihusan emphasized, adding that any implementation would be carried out with full adherence to international standards.
The move has reignited debate both domestically and internationally, particularly among human rights organizations and legal scholars. The United Nations Human Rights Review conducted last year acknowledged the Maldives’ commitment to Islamic law, while cautioning against the reintroduction of capital punishment. Groups like Amnesty International and the UN Human Rights Committee have long opposed the death penalty, especially in countries with records of judicial irregularities or where juveniles might be sentenced.
The Maldives has drawn criticism in the past for allowing the death penalty for crimes committed by individuals under the age of 18, a violation of international human rights conventions. Although the country changed its official method of execution from lethal injection to hanging, no executions have occurred in more than six decades. In 2016, plans to execute a convicted murderer were halted after widespread international calls for clemency.
If the revised Drugs Act is passed with the proposed amendments, the Maldives would become only the second country in the South Asian region, after Singapore, to actively enforce the death penalty for drug trafficking. While Sri Lanka also maintains capital punishment laws for similar crimes, it continues to observe an unofficial moratorium.
Growing concerns
The Attorney General’s announcement comes amid growing concerns about drug abuse and trafficking in the Maldives. As a popular tourist destination with porous maritime borders, the country has increasingly become a transit point for international drug syndicates. According to recent reports from Maldivian law enforcement, drug-related arrests and seizures have seen a sharp rise in the past two years.
President Muizzu’s administration has pledged to tackle the issue head-on, framing it as a national security and public health crisis. In addition to harsher sentencing, the government has proposed expanded rehabilitation programs and community-based initiatives aimed at prevention.
Still, critics argue that the reintroduction of capital punishment does not address the root causes of drug abuse and poses serious risks to justice and human rights.
“The death penalty is not a proven deterrent,” said one local human rights advocate, who asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. “We need a more holistic approach—one that includes treatment, education, and socioeconomic reforms.”
As Parliament prepares to debate the revised bill, the nation finds itself at a legal and moral crossroads. The outcome could define the Maldives’ approach to criminal justice for years to come, and reshape its international image in the process.
For now, all eyes remain on Parliament and the government’s next steps as the controversial bill nears submission.
