Maldives: Adhaalath calls for sharia law punishments in penal code
— Minivan News: “The religious conservative Adhaalath Party has criticised President Mohamed Nasheed for saying the death penalty and amputation should not be included in the revised penal code.”
— “In a rally last night at Dharubaaruge (convention centre), senior officials of the party said commandments of God could not be questioned, debated or altered.”
— “”We changed the previous government because it defied Islam and opposed Islamic activities,” said Assadullah Shafie. “If today he [President Nasheed] is directly trying to do things like this, I ask him to made amends. If he doesn’t do it, I call on you beloved citizens to come out against it.””
— “”Isn’t this a religious problem? Islamic sharia is Islamic sharia. Things cannot be omitted from it…it doesn’t need anyone else’s opinion,” he said.”
— “Under sharia law, the death penalty can be administered to those who commit murder and for crimes against the community, which includes apostasy, treason, rape, adultery and homosexuality. Amputation is the punishment prescribed for theft.”
— “During the parliamentary debate on the penal code, several MPs called for the introduction of the death penalty in the Maldives, arguing it was obligatory to enforce punishments stipulated in sharia law. The bill is now at committee stage for further review.”
— Mohamed Zuhair, president’s office press secretary “added that under the constitution, if a punishment was not specified, the law automatically reverted to sharia law. ‘Therefore it is not necessary to incorporate it in the penal code,’ he said.”
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