The government has submitted a bill to the People’s Majlis that would criminalise genocide under the Penal Code and impose higher penalties when the offence is committed by senior state officials.
The amendment, introduced by Maafannu South MP Abdulla Rifau, defines specific acts directed against a national, racial, ethnic or religious group as genocide. These include killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately imposing conditions of life calculated to destroy the group in whole or in part, and forcibly transferring children.
The offence would be a first-degree felony carrying a basic sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years. Direct public incitement would also be punishable. Claims of superior orders or lawful permission would not be available as a defence.
When committed by the President, a minister, a member of the Majlis, a judge or a senior commander in a security service, the crime would remain a first-degree felony; in other cases it would be classified as a second-degree felony.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham has stated that the measure is required to implement the Genocide Convention, which the Maldives ratified in 1984. Debate on the bill is expected to begin shortly.
