Sharp Rise in Torture Cases in Maldives Uninvestigated, U.S. Report Indicates

MALE, Maldives - The U.S. Department of State, in its most recent annual report, has critically highlighted a growing human rights concern in the Maldives, citing the failure of local authorities to investigate a doubling of reported torture cases against the Maldivian police force.

This report, released by the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, discloses that the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) received 59 reported incidents of torture by state officials up until August of last year. This number is more than twice the cases reported during the same period in 2021.

Of these, 45 allegations were directed against the local police service, while 10 incidents were associated with officers from the Maldivian correctional services. Despite these numbers, investigations are presently ongoing in only four cases, and many have been dismissed due to insufficient evidence or delayed reporting by the victims.

The report further indicates that the Maldivian police establishment has shown reluctance in probing the torture allegations lodged against its own personnel. The handling of a case involving eight policemen accused of assaulting a Bangladeshi national was criticized. Despite the court's decision to examine the case, the punitive measures were merely demotions instead of terminations.

The U.S. report also cast a harsh light on the living conditions within the nation's prisons. It painted a picture of overcrowded facilities prone to life-threatening complications and marked by substandard cleanliness. It was also noted that the inmates' health has been severely compromised, with several instances where they have been denied critical medical treatment.

This U.S. report underscores the urgent need for human rights reform in the Maldives, with emphasis on law enforcement accountability and improving prison conditions.