President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu

MALDIVES: DEATH PENALTY IMPLEMENTATION BILL IN FINAL STAGES

March 23, 2026:

President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu said on March 23, 2026 that enforcing the death penalty is necessary to ensure justice, adding that the Attorney General's Office is finalizing a bill outlining its implementation. 
Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office this morning, President Muizzu noted that the death penalty has yet to be implemented in the Maldives, stressing that it cannot be enforced through policy or regulation alone. 
In Maldives, the death penalty can only be carried out once all appeals are exhausted and the Supreme Court upholds the sentence. 
At present, there are three convicts on death row, with their sentences having been confirmed by the Supreme Court. However, Maldives has had an unofficial moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty for several decades now. 
The President said on March 23 that the bill on enforcing the death penalty is in its final drafting stages, and confirmed that the government plans to submit it to parliament within the current parliamentary term. 
"This is something we must do to ensure justice, and social justice. I do not believe it is a choice that the State has to prevent the enforcement of death penalty, provided all conditions are met, in an Islamic nation. It is not something that can be stopped in a 100 percent muslim country," the President stated. 
The President said that once the bill is passed and ratified, the death penalty will be enforced for all individuals who have been sentenced and have completed the full legal process.